Plea
A defendant's formal response to criminal charges, stating whether they are guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
A plea is the defendant’s official answer to criminal charges in court. It is one of the first formal steps in a criminal case.
The main types of pleas in Minnesota are:
- Not guilty: The defendant denies the charges and the case moves toward trial. The prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Guilty: The defendant admits to the charges. The case then moves to sentencing.
- No contest (nolo contendere): The defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the punishment. This plea cannot be used as an admission of guilt in a later civil lawsuit.
A plea bargain (or plea agreement) is a deal between the defendant and the prosecutor. The defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge or fewer charges in exchange for a lighter sentence or other concessions. The vast majority of criminal cases in Minnesota are resolved through plea bargains rather than going to trial.
Before accepting a guilty plea, the judge must confirm that the defendant understands their rights, understands the consequences of pleading guilty, and is entering the plea voluntarily.
Example: A person charged with theft is offered a plea bargain: plead guilty to a lesser charge and receive probation instead of jail time. At the hearing, the judge asks the defendant if they understand the agreement and are entering the plea voluntarily before accepting it.
At a criminal arraignment or plea hearing, when the defendant is asked to respond to the charges.