Danny Savalos

Many judges, many courts, many states will not allow Alford pleas. They are controversial.

Many judges, many courts, many states will not allow Alford pleas. They are controversial.

Hi, Andrea.

Hi, Andrea.

Yes, and there are actually some other pleas that are much more rare, and those are the Alford plea and the no contest or no lo contendere plea. So what is the difference between the two? In a no contest plea, you're basically not pleading guilty. You're not pleading anything, and you're sort of going limp and allowing the government or the court to find you guilty.

Yes, and there are actually some other pleas that are much more rare, and those are the Alford plea and the no contest or no lo contendere plea. So what is the difference between the two? In a no contest plea, you're basically not pleading guilty. You're not pleading anything, and you're sort of going limp and allowing the government or the court to find you guilty.

In an Alford plea, the defendant is pleading guilty, but but maintaining their innocence. And they enter an Alford plea because they believe in their heart of hearts they're innocent, but the evidence is just so overwhelming.

In an Alford plea, the defendant is pleading guilty, but but maintaining their innocence. And they enter an Alford plea because they believe in their heart of hearts they're innocent, but the evidence is just so overwhelming.

Yeah, for Peterson, he'd been convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen, in 2003. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In 2011, a new trial is ordered after a judge vacates his conviction. And then in 2017, he takes an Alford plea instead of going to face a second trial. So you can see the benefit. to the state is that they get their guilty verdict.

Yeah, for Peterson, he'd been convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen, in 2003. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In 2011, a new trial is ordered after a judge vacates his conviction. And then in 2017, he takes an Alford plea instead of going to face a second trial. So you can see the benefit. to the state is that they get their guilty verdict.

He's sentenced to time served. He's able to leave prison. And he can tell himself that the nature of my plea was that I am innocent, even though as far as the government and the paperwork and the courts are concerned, I am guilty.

He's sentenced to time served. He's able to leave prison. And he can tell himself that the nature of my plea was that I am innocent, even though as far as the government and the paperwork and the courts are concerned, I am guilty.

Yeah, Pam Hopp had entered an Alford plea to avoid the death penalty.

Yeah, Pam Hopp had entered an Alford plea to avoid the death penalty.

Absolutely. There is a real world consequence of pleading no contest because you can later on dispute your liability if you're sued in civil court for the same conduct. That is not the case with an Alford plea. You're essentially foreclosed from even arguing against your guilt or liability in a later court proceeding.

Absolutely. There is a real world consequence of pleading no contest because you can later on dispute your liability if you're sued in civil court for the same conduct. That is not the case with an Alford plea. You're essentially foreclosed from even arguing against your guilt or liability in a later court proceeding.

But other than that, there really isn't a whole lot that differentiates either an Alford plea or a no contest plea from a straight up guilty plea.

But other than that, there really isn't a whole lot that differentiates either an Alford plea or a no contest plea from a straight up guilty plea.

Yes. For the most part, you'll go to sentencing. You will be sentenced. And in fact, you might get a worse sentence because you haven't accepted responsibility. And one of the key factors in sentencing at the state and federal level is whether or not the defendant is accepting responsibility after they pleaded guilty.

Yes. For the most part, you'll go to sentencing. You will be sentenced. And in fact, you might get a worse sentence because you haven't accepted responsibility. And one of the key factors in sentencing at the state and federal level is whether or not the defendant is accepting responsibility after they pleaded guilty.