ALFORD PLEA

Alford plea. A guilty plea that a defendant enters as part of a plea bargain, without actually

admitting  guilt.  •  This  plea  is  not  considered  compelled  within  the  language  of  the  Fifth

Amendment  if  the  plea  represents  a  voluntary,  knowing,  and  intelligent  choice  between  the

available options <the  defendant —  realizing  the  strength  of  the  prosecution’s  evidence  and  not

wanting  to  risk  receiving  the  death  penalty  —  entered  into  an  Alford  plea>.North  Carolina  v.

Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. 160 (1970). Cf. NO CONTEST . [Cases: Criminal Law    273(4.1),

273.1(2). C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 365–374.] [Blacks Law 8th]