LGLS 0856 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Nolo Contendere, Habitual Offender, Castration
Document Summary
They plead guilty because they have made a deal with the da and the charges are lessened. They plead nolo contendere because if the court accepts it, your plea cannot be used against you in any other preceding (ie civil lawsuit) (won"t be on your record as a guilty plea) A defendant is usually not sentenced upon a finding of guilt. Court will do a background check and then tailor sentence to fit crime and defendant"s background. Right to a speedy trial is guaranteed by the sixth amendment. Charges must be brought to trial within 365 days of indictment otherwise your right have been predigous. However if the defendant waives that right (2 week continuous) then it cannot be thrown out. However, they cannot exceed maximum amount of years. Instead if stays out of trouble for a period of time such as six months or one year. his record will be expunged.
