Final answer:
The term for a defendant accepting punishment without admitting guilt is a no contest or nolo contendere plea, often part of plea bargaining or deferred adjudication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for when a defendant in a criminal court does not admit they are guilty but still accepts punishment for a crime is known as a plea of nolo contendere, or no contest. When a defendant enters a no contest plea, they neither dispute nor admit the charge against them. This can be an aspect of plea bargaining, where the defendant agrees to accept a penalty without admitting guilt in exchange for a potentially lesser charge or sentence. Deferred adjudication is another legal process that may follow a plea when sentencing is postponed upon completion of certain conditions, such as probation. In both cases, defendants may be hoping to avoid the uncertainty of a trial or to minimize their penalties.