The response must be one of the following: a plea of guilty, not guilty, or "nolo contendere" (no contest). The Steps Following a Not Guilty Plea. The judge asks if you want to plead guilty or not guilty. The court will then have a trial to decide whether you did. The magistrate might decide the police have proved the case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. What Happens If You Plead Not Guilty? sentencing. If you are not sure whether you want to plead guilty or not guilty, you can ask the judge to reschedule your initial appearance so you can talk to a lawyer first. Note: On October 1, 2019, the bail system in California will change with the passage of Senate Bill 10.The bill provides for the elimination of cash bail for misdemeanor DUI.

Theft of a value of $50 - $500 shoplifing - which appears to be what you are talking about - carries a possible penalty of up to 180 days county jail and a fine of up to $2,000 for the first offense. However, any criminal conviction can have long-lasting consequences. This is why you need to think about what you would say to the magistrate about any sentence they give you if you are found guilty.


Still, it is best to think carefully about entering a guilty plea and to understand the options and the consequences. Criminal defendants should be aware of the potential impact of any conviction before they accept a plea agreement or plead guilty. Some of these disadvantages include the following: Sentencing If a criminal defendant decides to plead guilty, he or she may not have as much time to wait for sentencing. You may be found guilty even though you are pleading not guilty. Once you have chosen to plead not guilty, your case will likely follow some critical steps: Trial date. If you get a deferred sentence and successfully complete the deferral, you will be eligible to expunge your record from the offense. Here you’ll find an overview of what happens at plea hearings, including matters of timing and where to find an experienced attorney.

Sometimes an attorney can work out a favorable disposition of the charges before the arraignment and can accomplish that disposition on the arraignment date. This is a risky move to take, and it may not be the best choice for you. This could be in front of a judge only for low level misdemeanor, or even higher level misdemeanors if you waive a jury trial. After your plea, the judge sets a trial date. No, you cannot appeal your own plea of guilt. The following will examine what will likely happen after entering a not guilty plea and shed some light on the trial process. So you and your attorney may decide to plead guilty or no contest. - Disadvantages to Pleading Guilty There are several disadvantages to immediately pleading guilty to a crime. You are also giving up your right to a trial and your right to remain silent. They may quickly plead guilty to avoid the expense and publicity of a trial, thinking that a misdemeanor will not affect them. Unlike a felony, a misdemeanor is punishable by no more than a year in county jail. A plea of not guilty will bring you to the next phase, which may be a pre-trial conference for misdemeanor cases and a preliminary hearing if a felony.. If you just plead guilty, you will be admitting not only guilt, but the amount of loss claimed by the store. 1. This gives his or her defense lawyer the opportunity to review the case and to assert all possible defenses. Do NOT plead guilty and do NOT plead no contest without first consulting a reputable criminal defense lawyer. What Happens If You Appear At Arraignment Without An Attorney? The proceeding that you are talking about sounds like arraignment, where the court asks a defendant if he or she is guilty or not guilty. You need a lawyer to make a deal. If the court decides that you did, this means you will be convicted, and the court will decide what sentence to give you . Pleading Not Guilty at an Arraignment For the reasons mentioned above, most criminal defendants plead not guilty at the arraignment hearing. Not guilty set a date for trial. for first time offenders that it wont appear on your record. By pleading not guilty, the criminal defendant buys time. 2) You have to retain a lawyer. What happens at the hearing? I had one case where the store changed a misdemeanor to a felony by including sales tax in the total value of the merchandise stolen. If you plead not guilty, a trial date will be set and you (and your attorney) can attempt to negotiate a plea deal with the state and prepare for trial. Your attorney can receive any evidence against you and begin to review that evidence. If we hadn't insisted on proof, the client would have been convicted of a felony. Pleading not guilty means that you say you didn't do the crime, or that you had a reasonable excuse for doing so. If you plead guilty, you will be convicted and sentenced. When you plea of not guilty, you are stating in open court that you did not commit the crimes filed against you. You plead not guilty In misdemeanor cases, when a person hires an attorney the attorney can enter an appearance and not guilty plea in writing and save the person from having to go to court for the arraignment.