By pleading not guilty, the criminal defendant buys time. This gives his or her defense lawyer the opportunity to review the case and to assert all possible defenses. The criminal defense lawyer may explain the defendant's rights.

Why do you always plead not guilty?

It's a good idea to always plead not guilty at arraignment because it simply provides you and your lawyer time to review the facts, the evidence and begin working to discredit the charges against you. If you plead guilty, you're admitting to the crime. It's not a question of whether you committed the crime.

Is it best to plead not guilty?

Really, the criminal justice system was designed for people to plead not guilty instead of guilty. If you're actually innocent of the crime, a not guilty plea is your only way to get justice and avoid criminal charges. Meanwhile, some plea bargains will do very little to help you out.