Is there a difference between a court conviction and a guilty plea?

Question

Is there a difference between a court conviction and a guilty plea? For instance, if a person pleads guilty to a crime does that mean he/she has been convicted?

Aaron Black · Answer

If a person pleaded guilty of a crime then they have been convicted of a crime.

Jeff Yeh · Answer

No difference. Same thing.

Matthew Murillo · Answer

No difference.

Timothy Klisz · Answer

Yes. No difference.

Keeley D. Heath · Answer

Yes. A guilty plea is a conviction.

Jules N. Fiani · Answer

No.

Philip Hache · Answer

If a person enters a guilty plea, the court will then convict and sentence the person based on the guilty plea.

Jacob P. Sartz · Answer

They are different stages in the process. The guilty plea is one stage; the sentencing is the final stage and when the actual "conviction" enters. People, of course, also have a right to appeal. People may also elect to file a motion to withdraw their plea. However, sentencing is usually when the offense is treated as a "conviction" and the person is sentenced for the offense.   Occasionally, a judge will sentence a person on the same day as a plea. However, with more serious matters (felonies, occasionally some misdemeanor offenses) the judge usually sets the sentencing date for a pre-sentence interview and requests a pre-sentence report prior to sentencing.   It should be noted, though, that for certain traffic offenses, the court will send an abstract to the Secretary of State after a plea and before a conviction. This means a person may be facing license sanctions even before their conviction is entered.

Michael J. Breczinski · Answer

A guilty plea, no contest plea and a conviction after trial are all the same, the person is deemed guilty of the charge.

Gregory Casale · Answer

If a person pleads guilty it is effectively no different than a conviction. If the person plead Guilty but the court continued the case without a finding (CWOF) for some period of time, that is not a conviction.

Theresa Suzanne Hofmeister · Answer

Conviction by trial or conviction by guilty plea, both are convictions.

Steven H. Fagan · Answer

There are instances in which a plea of guilty does not necessarily mean a conviction will result. For a common example, in eligible cases, a plea of guilty can result in an order of Court Supervision. Successful completion of the requirements of a sentence of Court Supervision in Illinois results in the termination of the case without entry of a judgment of conviction.

Mark R. Thiessen · Answer

Yes, if a person pleads guilty it is a conviction and will stay on your record for life.  Be very careful and make sure your attorney is fighting for you.

Eric Sterkenburg · Answer

The main difference between a conviction by trial and a plea of guilty is that you cannot appeal a guilty plea.

Scott Gorman · Answer

The guilty plea is an admission by a defendant that he or she committed a particular offense. Essentially, by admitting guilt, a defendant skips the trial at which a judge or jury would make a determination as to whether or not the defendant was guilty. The conviction is based on a finding of guilt, but it is not complete until after the defendant is sentenced.

Cynthia Henley · Answer

If one pleads guilty and has signed a document admitting all the elements, then one will be found guilty. A guilty plea is the act of pleading guilty. A conviction is the resulting determination by a judge or jury upon a guilty or not guilty plea.

Cindy L. Barton-Coombs · Answer

There is not a difference. Both a guilty plea and a finding by a judge or a jury that you are guilty results in a conviction being entered on your record.

Michael Lynch · Answer

I am not sure what you are looking for, but there are differences. For instance, if you plea no contest the court will accept your plea and  find you guilty. The main purpose of a no contest plea is to prevent  the conviction from being used against you in a civil case. If you are found guilty, or plead guilty, that result can be used in a civil case to establish liability. However, if you plead no contest then a plaintiff in a civil case will still need to establish liability.

Joseph Redding · Answer

A guilty plea is one way for the court to find you guilty of a crime. The other is a jury trial.  If a person pleads guilty, the vast majority of the time the court will find the person guilty and enter a judgment of conviction on the record. However, a court can accept a guilty plea, but withhold the judgment of conviction.  This is what commonly occurs in deferred prosecution agreements.  The person pleads guilty at the same time he or she enters into an agreement with the state.  IF they complete the agreement, the court dismisses the case, and the plea does result in a conviction being entered.

Michael Palumbo · Answer

Absolutely a plea of "guilty" is exactly the same as being found guilty after trial.

Michael Garber · Answer

There's no difference.

Steven Raiser · Answer

There is no difference. A conviction based on a plea is the same as a conviction after trial.

Edward Blum · Answer

It is the same thing.

Justin Summary · Answer

Yes there is a difference.  For a conviction to happen the court must impose a sentence, if the court does not impose a sentence (i.e. the court suspends imposition of sentence) there will not be a conviction if that person can successfully complete their probation even though they pled guilty.

Lorenzo L. Angelino · Answer

There is no difference with respect to your record.

Patrick Jarrett · Answer

Yes.  Pleading guilty is a conviction.  It is essentially an admission of guilt.

Jared Altman · Answer

No. There's no difference.

Craig Elhart · Answer

There is no difference.

Leonard Harden · Answer

No difference if plea or found guilty both are convictions.  If a nolo contendre plea then no civil liability but still a conviction.

Jon Martinez · Answer

No, there is no difference between a guilty plea and a conviction after trial.  Both are considered convictions on your criminal record.

Thomas Tomko · Answer

There is really no difference, as the plea is the conviction. The  person's plea allows the court to enter the plea of guilt.  This plea  is the result in the case, which is a finding of guilt.

Mark Broughton · Answer

Yes. A guilty plea is the same as a jury verdict, as far as a conviction is concerned.

Daniel Kiss · Answer

A plea of guilty results in a conviction just as if a person was found guilty after a trial. The only exception is in certain misdemeanor cases where supervision is the sentence. A sentence of supervision means there was a finding of guilt (either by plea or after trial), but it does not count as a conviction.

Michael Chastaine · Answer

No difference both are a conviction.

Jared Austin · Answer

If you plead guilty that is considered a conviction. It is tantamount to proof beyond a reasonable doubt as if you had been convicted at trial by either a judge or jury. The only difference is that you voluntarily give up your right to trial and plead guilty as opposed to being found guilty. They are one in the same.

Jason Overton · Answer

It is the same effect.  A judge finds you guilty based upon your plea of guilty, and a conviction is entered in your record  with the same effect as a conviction following a trial where the jury determines that you're guilty.

John Patrick Yetter · Answer

There is a difference between the two. A plea or finding of guilty leads to a sentencing. A judgment of conviction is one potential part of a sentence.

Michael Maltby · Answer

You are considered to have a conviction upon entry of a plea (of guilt). All that is remains is to be sentenced.

Steven Fairlie · Answer

A guilty plea is not a conviction - but the sentence that usually follows it is.  If you were sentenced, meaning to pay a fine, probation, or jail time, then it was a conviction.  If you got ARD or Section 17, then even being put on probation does not equate to a conviction because it is not a formal sentence in those instances. You should talk with a lawyer to have your circumstances evaluated.

Stephen Richards · Answer

If a person pleads guilty and judgment is entered (that means the judge  accepts the plea and makes the conviction official) then there is a  conviction.

Louis Leibowitz · Answer

If you plead guilty to a crime or are found guilty by either a judge or a jury it is the same. All are convictions. It makes no difference.

Dennis Roberts · Answer

Yes. A guilty plea or a nolo plea are both convictions, no different than if  you had gone to trial and been found guilty.

John Bussman · Answer

A guilty plea results in a conviction. People can also be convicted by a jury verdict, but the result is the same.

Kevin Ellmann · Answer

Usually, a guilty plea results in a conviction.  However, there are circumstances when this is NOT the case.  For example, a "Deferred Judgment and Sentence" involves a plea of guilty without the Court officially entering a judgment of conviction on that plea pending the defendant completing certain terms and conditions.  If those terms and conditions are satisfied, the plea is eventually withdrawn and the charge dismissed.  In this scenario, there never was a conviction despite the (temporary) guilty plea.  If the terms and conditions are not satisfied, the judge enters judgment on the plea (conviction) and imposes sentence.

Jeffrey Pollock · Answer

A plea is equal to a conviction.

Harley Gutin · Answer

Yes.  A guilty plea or a no contest plea are treated the same.  If you plea with an agreement to be adjudicated or you plea to the Court and the court adjudicates you guilty it is the same.  If the Court or plea agreement calls for a "withholding of adjudication" then you will not be a "convicted felon".  However, that has limited meaning as the federal government does not recognize the "withholding of adjudication".  Nor does most business that require security clearances.

Ruchee Patel · Answer

Both a verdict of guilt by a jury and a voluntary plea of guilt are convictions. They are different, but for the purposes of the question, yes, its the same result on your record.

Eric Rothstein · Answer

Pleading guilty is the same as being convicted after trial. Either way it's a conviction.

James Smith · Answer

When you plead guilty you are convicted just as if a jury returned a guilty verdict.

Stephen Freeborn · Answer

Once the plea is accepted by the judge, then there is no difference.  A plea to the charge results in a conviction, just as if the case had been tried.

Find a Lawyer

Ask a Lawyer

Read Legal Articles

Ask a Lawyer

Read Legal Articles

Is there a difference between a court conviction and a guilty plea?

50 ANSWERS

Find Local Criminal Law Lawyers

Helpful Resources

Ask a Lawyer