A plea of not guilty means that a person is denying guilt or has a defense.

• A. False
• B. It Means They Waive Rights
• C. It Means They Want A Jury Trial
• D. True

Answer: (D)

A plea of not guilty signals that the defendant denies the guilt and plans to present a defense at trial. By claiming not guilty, the person is not admitting to the crime and is starting the process to challenge the accusation with evidence, alibi, or other legal arguments. This plea preserves rights and allows the case to proceed to a trial where the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It isn’t about waiving rights—that happens with a guilty plea or no contest—and it doesn’t by itself dictate the trial format: a not guilty plea can lead to either a jury trial or a bench trial depending on the circumstances.