Legal Dictionary
Acquittal
Definition
A formal legal determination that an accused criminal is not guilty of the offense charged.
Deep Dive
An acquittal is a formal legal finding by a court that an accused person is not guilty of the crime for which they have been tried. This determination signifies that the prosecution failed to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the high standard of proof required in criminal cases. An acquittal does not necessarily mean the defendant is innocent, but rather that the evidence presented was insufficient to meet the burden of proof required for a conviction.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1After a lengthy trial, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, resulting in an acquittal for the defendant
- 2The judge issued a directed verdict of acquittal when the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case
- 3A defendant in a complex fraud case was acquitted when key evidence was ruled inadmissible.
Related Terms
VerdictNot GuiltyDouble Jeopardy