What Does “Acquitted” Mean?

When legal proceedings take place, many terms and concepts come into play. One of the most common is the idea of “acquitted,” which is important to understand as it has a huge impact on the judgement of a court case. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the term “acquitted,” what it means in the context of judicial proceedings, and how it applies to the verdict of a criminal case.

Understanding Acquittal

Acquittal is the result of a legal case in which a person is declared “not guilty” of a criminal charge. In most cases, when an individual is acquitted of a crime standing before them, the case is generally considered finished. It is important to understand that an acquittal does not necessarily mean that the accused individual did not commit the alleged crime; rather, it is the court’s acknowledgement that the prosecution’s evidence was not sufficient to prove the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Acquittal Versus Pardon

It is important to note that exoneration, which is a form of acquittal, is significantly different than a pardon. An exoneration or acquittal is a decision by the court that there is insufficient evidence to prove the accused’s guilt and releases the individual from criminal responsibility; however, a pardon is an action granted by the executive branch (typically the president in the U.S.) that forgives someone for a crime. Pardons take effect after a conviction, and leave the guilty verdict intact, albeit with the added benefit of forgiveness from the executive branch of government.

Applying Acquittal to Criminal Cases

When it comes to criminal cases, acquittal is typically applicable when the court finds a lack of evidence against the accused. This means that the jury must find a lack of evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If the jury is not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, then the accused is eligible for acquittal, and the case is promptly concluded.

Conclusion

In conclusion, acquittal is an important term to understand in the context of judicial proceedings, particularly when it comes to criminal cases. It is the verdict that is rendered when the court finds a lack of evidence of guilt. An acquittal is not the same as a pardon, as it is a result of the court not being able to prove guilt, whereas a pardon is an action by the executive branch that results in a criminal’s forgiveness.