How do I prepare for a guilty plea?

When you plead guilty to a crime, you're admitting:

• you did something against the law, and
• you had a guilty state of mind when you broke the law.

You're also giving up your right to a trial and to have the Crown prove the criminal charges against you beyond a reasonable doubt.

Plea inquiry

You must go through the “plea inquiry” before you plead guilty. The purpose of the plea inquiry is to make sure you understand:

• what it means to plead guilty
• your rights if you plead not guilty

If your answers show that you don't understand the consequences of pleading guilty, or that someone has pressured you, the court can't accept a guilty plea from you. Instead, the court must enter a plea of not guilty on your behalf. If this happens, you will have a trial and will only be sentenced if you're found guilty.

Sentencing

If your guilty plea is accepted, the judge finds you guilty. Your lawyer and the Crown will suggest a sentence. But the judge doesn't have to give you that sentence. The judge decides your sentence based on what they think is appropriate and reasonable. Sentencing may happen right away or at a later date.

Legal help

Pleading guilty to a crime is a serious decision. You should speak with a lawyer or duty counsel before you decide.