Some countries, like Scotland, have “not proven”, or the “bastard verdict”, rendered when a jury isn’t convinced that a person is innocent but doesn’t believe that the case against the accused has been proven. The accused is “not guilty” under the law, but carries a social stigma.
The some jurisdictions of the United States the “Alford Plea” is available. The Alford Plea is a guilty plea by a defendant who proclaims he is innocent of the crime he is charged with, while admitting the prosecution has enough evidence to prove he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is entered when an accused, with his attorney, decide to plead guilty because the evidence against him is so strong it will likely lead to conviction. It usually results in a guilty plea to a lesser crime (for example, conviction for second-degree murder instead of first-degree murder).
Some countries, like Scotland, have “not proven”, or the “bastard verdict”, rendered when a jury isn’t convinced that a person is innocent but doesn’t believe that the case against the accused has been proven. The accused is “not guilty” under the law, but carries a social stigma.
The some jurisdictions of the United States the “Alford Plea” is available. The Alford Plea is a guilty plea by a defendant who proclaims he is innocent of the crime he is charged with, while admitting the prosecution has enough evidence to prove he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is entered when an accused, with his attorney, decide to plead guilty because the evidence against him is so strong it will likely lead to conviction. It usually results in a guilty plea to a lesser crime (for example, conviction for second-degree murder instead of first-degree murder).