admission of guilt
Admission of guilt is an oral or written statement by an accused acknowledging that they have committed a criminal offense . An admission of guilt can be indicated from the words of an accused even though specific words like “yes, I am guilty” are not used. In the case of U.S. v. Roberts , the First Circuit held that the phrase ‘admission of guilt’ does not have so clear and precise a meaning as to foreclose its extension to a defendant's admission to sufficient facts to warrant a finding of guilt. The guideline by its terms uses the word ‘ admission ’ and does not require a formal plea of guilty .
See, e.g. Libretti v. U.S., 516 U.S. 29 (1995)
[Last reviewed in February of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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