What is the difference between entering a plea of guilty or a plea of no contest in Jacksonville?

If you are charged with a crime in Jacksonville, Florida, you may decide to enter into a plea deal with the Jacksonville state attorney. If that is the case, you will be entering a plea of guilty or no contest to a Jacksonville crime. Before doing so, you should understand that you are waiving a variety or rights. Many people believe that they will not have a criminal record if they plea no contest. This is not true. Regardless of whether you enter a plea of guilty or no contest, you criminal record will still reflect the crime. When you enter a plea of guilty in Jacksonville, you are telling the court that you are guilty of the offense. When you enter a plea of no contest, you are telling the court that it is in your best interest to accept the plea deal, but you are not admitting guilt. This has no affect on your criminal record.

In some cases, it maybe advisable for you to enter a plea of no contest instead of a plea of guilty to the Jacksonville criminal charge, because of possible civil liability that may be involved. Before entering a plea to a Jacksonville crime, you should contact a Jacksonville Criminal Lawyer.