Rhode Island Attorney’s Can Help You Make the Correct Legal Decisions
In legalese, a plea of nolo contendere means a person doesn’t contest any of the charges against them. It is a Latin-based term that means “no contest.” If you are a Providence resident who finds yourself in such a situation, you should consider hiring a Rhode Island attorney to represent you in court so that you fully understand all the ramifications of making such a plea.
The Rhode Island Bar Association lays out a way to deal with this kind of situation, but it’s not always easily grasped by folks lacking a legal background. What is the difference between a guilty plea and a plea of nolo contendere in the state of Rhode Island? According to Rhode Island Bar Association, a guilty plea always results in a criminal conviction. As you might imagine, a guilty plea has major negative implications, especially when applying for employment.
A plea of nolo contendere, however, may not constitute a criminal conviction in Rhode Island. This is where hiring an accomplished Rhode Island attorney is so important, because they can save you from a criminal conviction and from doing irreparable damage to your future. A plea of nolo contendere is only a conviction in Rhode Island if there is a sentence of confinement, a fine imposed or a suspended sentence.
For example, a plea of nolo contendere with a sentence of probation and a contribution to the violent crimes indemnity fund or court costs will not constitute a conviction under Rhode Island Law. This is all much more than a layman can fully understand, so it’s essential to hire the services of an attorney well-versed in Rhode Island law in order for you to ensure that these types of legal situations are handled properly and in your best interest.
