Pleas of Guilty

In August 1997, the ABA House of Delegates approved these “black letter” standards that have been published with commentary in ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pleas of Guilty, 3d ed., © 1999 American Bar Association. For the text of the publication, click HERE . To go directly to individual “black letter” standards (without commentary), click on the links below. 

Copyright by the American Bar Association. This work (Criminal Justice Standards) may be used for non-profit educational and training purposes and legal reform (legislative, judicial, and executive) without written permission but with a citation to this source.  Some specific Standards can be purchased in book format.

PART I. RECEIVING AND ACTING UPON THE PLEA

Standard 14-1.1 Pleading by defendant; alternatives
Standard 14-1.2 Pleading to other offenses
Standard 14-1.3 Aid of counsel; time for deliberation
Standard 14-1.4 Defendant to be advised
Standard 14-1.5 Determining voluntariness of plea
Standard 14-1.6 Determining factual basis of plea
Standard 14-1.7 Record of proceedings
Standard 14-1.8 Consideration of plea in final disposition

PART II. WITHDRAWAL OF THE PLEA

Standard 14-2.1 Plea withdrawal and specific performance
Standard 14-2.2 Withdrawn plea and discussions not admissible

PART III. PLEA DISCUSSIONS AND PLEA AGREEMENTS

Standard 14-3.1 Responsibilities of the prosecuting attorney
Standard 14-3.2 Responsibilities of defense counsel
Standard 14-3.3 Responsibilities of the judge
Standard 14-3.4 Inadmissibility of nolo contendere pleas, pleas not accepted, and plea discussions

PART IV. DIVERSION AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTIONS

Standard 14-4.1 Diversion and other alternative resolutions

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