POINTS:
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REFERENCES:
Conviction by Guilty Plea
CRPR.SAMA.18.13.02 – Know the stages of a jury trial and the constitutional amendments
that guarantee defendants the right to a public trial.
63. Explain the rights that defendants waive when they enter a guilty plea. What protection does a defendant have when
making a guilty plea?
Defendants waive three constitutional rights:
(1) The Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, meaning they waive the privilege of self-
incrimination.
(2) The Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury.
(3) The Sixth Amendment right to confront the witnesses against them.
For the waiver to be constitutional, SCOTUS has ruled that judges must ensure, in open
court, through direct questions to the defendant, that the waiver was knowing and intelligent.
The defendant must be aware of all of the consequences of the plea.
Conviction by Guilty Plea
CRPR.SAMA.18.13.04 – Understand the difference between straight guilty pleas, negotiated
guilty pleas, charge bargaining, and sentence bargaining. Know the circumstances under
which guilty pleas and plea bargaining are constitutional and the rights that defendants waive
when they enter a guilty plea.
64. Explain the various types of guilty pleas.
Straight guilty pleas are made without negotiation between defense counsel and the
prosecutor, and are generally entered in cases where the proof of guilt is overwhelming.
Negotiated pleas occur in exchange for some concession from the government.
Charge bargaining is when the government reduces either the severity or the number of
criminal charges in exchange for a guilty plea.
Sentence bargaining occurs when the prosecutor recommends a favorable sentence to the
judge, or when the defendant bargains directly for a favorable sentence with the judge, in