What plea is entered when the accused refuses to plead?

When the accused refuses to plead, the appropriate response is to enter a plea of not guilty. This is grounded in legal practice; when a defendant does not provide a plea, the court interprets this as a refusal to accept guilt and ensures the defendant's rights are protected. Entering a not guilty plea allows the legal process to proceed to trial, where the prosecution must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The concept of a trial in absentia refers to a trial conducted without the defendant present, which is not directly related to the scenario where an accused refuses to plead. Provisional dismissal involves the temporary dismissal of charges under specific conditions, and prescription of crime relates to the statute of limitations for prosecuting offenses. Thus, understanding the procedural safeguard of entering a plea of not guilty is essential in recognizing how the legal system functions when an accused remains silent or noncommittal.