What problems are associated with Alford and nolo contendere pleas?
What will be an ideal response?
The Alford plea is a plea in criminal court that allows a defendant to assert his or her innocence but admit or acknowledge the existence of sufficient evidence to find the person guilty. Judges may then find the person guilty or put aside a finding for a later dismissal—the prospect of a later dismissal engenders interest in this type of plea. A plea of nolo contendere means that the defendant neither admits nor disputes the charge levied against him or her. The term literally translates from Latin as "I do not wish to argue." The introduction of such a plea allows the court to find the individual guilty without the person admitting to the facts of the case. Judges are not obligated to accept Alford pleas or nolo contender pleas. They provide ways for the wrongfully accused to assert his or her innocence (while acknowledging the likelihood of a conviction), but they also allow guilty defendants to avoid personal accountability.
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If a judge takes ______ _______ of a fact, the fact is assumed true and admitted as evidence
Fill in the blank(s) with correct word
Common law is the product of a legislative enactment and it is the primary law in the United States today
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Voluntary manslaughter requires:
A) the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony. B) a cooling-off period after the provocation. C) Both A and B. D) the same kind of intent required for the crime of murder.
The unit of analysis in Miethe, Regoeczi, and Drass’s study of homicide was:
a. victims b. offenders c. homicides d. victims’ families