Carl wishes to plead guilty,even though he maintains that he is innocent.He realizes,however,that the evidence against him is overwhelming and that if he goes to trial,he will be found guilty.What can Carl do?

Question

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The Alford plea, named after the Supreme Court case North Carolina v. Alford, allows defendants to plead guilty while still maintaining their innocence. In this plea, the defendant acknowledges that the prosecution has enough evidence to likely convict them, but they do not admit to actually committing the crime. The judge must approve of this plea, but it can be used in cases where the defendant wishes to avoid the risk of greater penalties if found guilty at trial.

Carl Wishes to Plead Guilty,even Though He Maintains That He