{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "340.20", "citation": "CPL § 340.20", "heading": "The plea", "text": ["§ 340.20  The plea.", "1.  Except as provided in subdivisions two and three, the provisions of article two hundred twenty, governing the kinds of pleas to indictments which may be entered and related matters, are, to the extent that they can be so applied, applicable to pleas to informations, and changes of pleas thereto, in local criminal courts.", "2.  A plea to an information, other than one against a corporation, must be entered in the following manner:", "(a)  Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b), a plea to an information must be entered orally by the defendant in person unless the court permits entry thereof by counsel upon the filing by him of a written and subscribed statement by the defendant declaring that he waives his right to plead to the information in person and authorizing his attorney to enter a plea on his behalf as set forth in the authorization.", "(b)  If the only offense or offenses charged are traffic infractions, the procedure provided in sections eighteen hundred five, eighteen hundred six and eighteen hundred seven of the vehicle and traffic law, relating to pleas in such cases, is, when appropriate, applicable and controlling.", "3.  A plea to an information against a corporation must be entered by counsel.", "4. When a sentence is agreed upon by the prosecutor and a defendant as a predicate to entry of a plea of guilty, the court or the prosecutor must orally on the record, or in writing filed with the court, state the sentence agreed upon as a condition of such plea."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/340.20", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "- **1.** The **Article 220** rules on kinds of pleas to indictments (and plea changes) apply — as far as they can — to pleas to **informations** in local criminal courts (except as subds. 2 and 3 provide).\n- **2.** A plea to an information (not against a corporation) must be entered: ★\n  - **(a)** **orally by the defendant in person**, unless the court permits **counsel** to enter it upon filing a **written, subscribed waiver** by the defendant giving up the right to plead in person and authorizing the attorney; ★\n  - **(b)** if the only charges are **traffic infractions**, the VTL §§ 1805, 1806, 1807 plea procedures control.\n- **3.** A plea for a **corporation** must be entered **by counsel.** ★\n- **4.** When a **sentence is agreed upon** as a condition of a guilty plea, the court or prosecutor must state that agreed sentence **on the record or in writing** filed with the court. ★", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/340.20", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}