Alford plea

Type: Concept

As of November 2026, Alford plea has been mentioned in one podcast episode on Crime Junkie (Nov 2026). The type of plea Homer entered (referred to as 'Alfred plea' in transcript) allowing him to accept a sentence without admitting guilt, leading to his release due to time served.

In United States law, an Alford plea, also called a Kennedy plea in West Virginia, an Alford guilty plea, and the Alford doctrine, is a guilty plea in criminal court, whereby a defendant in a criminal case does not admit to the criminal act and asserts innocence, but accepts imposition of a sentence.