What Does Acquitted Mean in Court?

The criminal justice system uses a lot of terminology and jargon that may be difficult for non-lawyers to understand. If you’ve been charged with a crime, you need to make sure you understand everything you’re being told and all the possible outcomes of your case. Just what does “acquitted” mean in court? In this article, we will define acquittal, discuss how a defendant gets acquitted, and determine what it means when you are acquitted.

When a person is acquitted in court, it means that a judge or jury rules that the prosecutor did not present enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime.

Does Acquitted Mean Not Guilty?

A not-guilty verdict is an acquittal. A judge can also enter a judgment of acquittal when the evidence is legally insufficient to support a conviction, even without a jury returning a not-guilty verdict. A not-guilty plea is different: it contests the charge and leaves the case pending.

How Do You Get Acquitted in Criminal Cases?

A judge or jury must find you not guilty if the prosecution fails to prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. You do not have to prove your innocence or present evidence to obtain an acquittal. Your attorney may expose gaps in the prosecution’s case through cross-examination, challenge unreliable evidence, or present defense evidence when helpful. Some affirmative defenses have separate proof requirements.

An appellate court may also direct a judgment of acquittal when it reverses a conviction because the trial evidence was legally insufficient. That ruling bars another trial for the same offense. A reversal for trial error, such as an incorrect jury instruction, may instead lead to a new trial.

What Does it Mean When You Are Acquitted?

An acquittal means you cannot be sentenced for the charge on which you were acquitted. Double jeopardy generally bars the same government from trying you again for that offense. The prosecution cannot appeal a jury’s not-guilty verdict, although some post-verdict rulings may be appealed without requiring a new trial. An acquittal does not resolve other pending charges or court orders. It also does not necessarily prevent a separate federal or state prosecution arising from the same conduct.

“Not Guilty” Does Not Equal “Innocent”

An important distinction is understanding that being found not guilty is not the same as being innocent. A not guilty verdict just means that the judge or jury believes that the prosecutor failed to prove the defendant was guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Is an Acquittal the Same as a Dismissal?

An acquittal resolves a charge in the defendant’s favor based on the prosecution’s failure to establish guilt. A dismissal ends a charge on grounds that may leave guilt undecided. Depending on the grounds and stage of the case, the prosecution may be able to refile a dismissed charge.

In Florida, a motion to dismiss may challenge:

An unlawful arrest or search does not automatically require dismissal. A motion to suppress asks the court to exclude evidence obtained in violation of your rights. If the remaining evidence cannot support the charge, the prosecution may drop it.

Partial Acquittal

If you are charged with multiple crimes, another possible outcome is a partial acquittal. For example, if you are charged with domestic violence and manslaughter, you may be found guilty of the domestic violence charges, but acquitted of manslaughter.