Acquittal

Read this guide for everything you must know about the law definition of acquittal in lawsuits–What it means, how it is different from dismissal, the legal requisites, and more!

What Is An Acquittal?

In legal terms, acquittal refers to a court verdict in which a judge or jury finds the defendant not guilty. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the defendant is innocent.

It implies that the prosecution failed to prove the crime beyond a reasonable doubt or failed to meet the burden of proof, the pieces of evidence presented were weak, and the jury didn’t find beyond a reasonable doubt that the crime had been committed.

In cases of acquittal, the defendant is absolved and discharged from the said accusation legally.

What Are The Grounds For Acquittal?

The most common ground for acquittal is when the prosecution presents a weak case, and the judge or jury is unable to find the defendant guilty of the charges.

An excellent criminal defense attorney can help a defendant get an acquittal by establishing doubts of guilt- either by producing motives & evidence for another individual’s guilt or questioning the authenticity of the evidence presented by the prosecution.

The burden of proof is a legal requisite where in one party to show & prove that they are correct, while the opposing party is presumed to be correct de facto. In criminal cases, the burden of proof is serious and rests on the prosecution.

Partial Acquittal

If a defendant is charged with multiple offenses, it is possible to be partially acquitted, depending on the severity of the crime, the evidence available, and the prosecution, among others.

If there is insufficient proof that the defendant is guilty of one crime, the defendant may receive an acquittal on the particular offense but will still be guilty of the other charges.

Acquittal definition glossary term

What Is The Difference Between Acquittal & Dismissal?

Dismissal and acquittal are not the same. While acquittal happens during a court trial, dismissal occurs early in the criminal case. So, if a case is dismissed, the defendant need not stand trial.

Dismissal most commonly happens when the prosecutor believes that there is no substantial evidence to support the case or when the judge does not find enough support to proceed with the case.

In some cases, the criminal defense attorney can petition for dismissal if:

  • The defendant was arrested without probable cause
  • There are errors on the side of the prosecution while presenting the case & pieces of evidence
  • The criminal documents are weak or riddled with errors
  • Any authority performed unlawful searches

Is Acquittal The Same As Not Guilty?

When a defendant is found Not guilty, they are no longer legally answerable for the charge filed against them. When a court gives a verdict of not guilty, this also constitutes an acquittal.

When charges have been pressed, and the criminal case filed, the ideal outcome for the defendant is case dismissal before it goes to trial. If this has been rejected, the next best outcome is Not Guilty and, thereby, an acquittal.

Acquittal Vs Discharge

While acquittal is a court verdict by which an accused is found not guilty, discharge refers to the process where an individual is legally freed from the criminal charge without a trial or verdict. In other words, the case against the accused is dropped.

A discharge can happen before the trial, unlike an acquittal.

Can Acquittal Be Appealed?

Appeals are limited in the US legal system. Unless in exceptional cases, it is not possible to appeal for an acquittal since it can violate the double jeopardy clause.

This states that a defendant cannot be put to trial again on the same case & criminal charges following an acquittal or conviction.

Appeals happen when the prosecution feels the verdict was very lenient or the defense feels it as very harsh. It must be noted that the government cannot appeal an acquittal unless in a rare case.

Do You Get Compensation If You Are Acquitted?

Unless wrongly convicted, the US criminal justice system or the government has no liability to offer compensation to the defendant.

 

Written by Aaron R. Winston
Last Updated: April 8, 2023 2:02pm CDT