What if I plead "guilty"?

If you plead guilty, the judge will ask you questions to make sure that you understand the charge against you. The judge may decide your sentence right then. The judge may order that a probation officer prepare a report about you that will assist the judge in making an appropriate sentence for you. This is called a pre-sentence report. The judge will set another day when you must return to court and the probation officer must have completed the pre-sentence report. The judge will then give you your sentence. A pre-sentence report must be completed if the judge is thinking about giving you a sentence in custody or under court supervision.

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January 2004

More Youth Criminal Justice Act FAQs:

• Introduction
• Arrest / Police
• Extrajudicial Measures
• Extrajudicial Sanctions
• Youth Court

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