A guilty plea must be a knowing and informed decision to the crime charged in the criminal complaint
Upon the alleged commission of a crime resulting in a defendant’s arrest, at arraignment, the court will ask how the defendant wishes to plead. The defendant will have three choices: not guilty, guilty, or no contest.
Most defendants at arraignment plead not guilty. Those who plead guilty admit to having committed the crime as alleged in the criminal complaint and forfeit their constitutional right to a jury trial.
