Difference Between Acquittal and Not Guilty

Not guilty means that a defendant is not legally answerable for the criminal charge filed against him/her. An acquittal is a finding by a judge or jury that a defendant is not guilty of the crime charged. ... Rather, it means that the prosecutor failed to prove that the defendant was guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

1. Is an acquittal the same as not guilty?
2. What happens after an acquittal?
3. Does acquittal have to be unanimous?
4. Can you be acquitted after being convicted?
5. Can a judge overturn an acquittal?
6. Can a person be tried again with new evidence?
7. Can the Crown appeal an acquittal?
8. What does unanimously acquitted mean?
9. What happens if one juror says not guilty?
10. What does being acquitted of a crime mean?

Is an acquittal the same as not guilty?

"Not guilty" and "acquittal" are synonymous.

In other words, to find a defendant not guilty is to acquit. At trial, an acquittal occurs when the jury (or the judge if it's a judge trial) determines that the prosecution hasn't proved the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

What happens after an acquittal?

What Happens After an Acquittal? One of the main aspects of an acquittal is that once it has been granted, the person can no longer be prosecuted or tried for those same charges. This is due to “double jeopardy” laws, which prohibit a person from being tried twice for the same crime.

Does acquittal have to be unanimous?

The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure state, "The verdict must be unanimous. . . . If there are multiple defendants, the jury may return a verdict at any time during its deliberations as to any defendant about whom it has agreed. . . .

Can you be acquitted after being convicted?

A convicted defendant who wins an appeal can sometimes secure an order from the appellate court that the lower court (the trial court) dismiss the case or enter a judgment of acquittal rather than retry the case. ...

Can a judge overturn an acquittal?

For example, a judge can never overturn a verdict of not guilty. ... To overturn a guilty verdict, the judge must look at all evidence presented most favorable to the prosecution. The judge can only grant judgment to overturn the verdict if the evidence clearly fails to establish guilt.

Can a person be tried again with new evidence?

The obvious application of double jeopardy is when law enforcement finds new evidence of the defendant's guilt after the jury has already acquitted them. ... The prosecution cannot charge them again, even if the evidence shows that they probably are guilty.

Can the Crown appeal an acquittal?

But as there is now an appeal available to the Crown against a directed verdict of acquittal on a ground that “involves a question of law” pursuant to s 107 Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001, full reasons should be given by the judge for the decision to direct an acquittal so that the decision can be subject to ...

What does unanimously acquitted mean?

to relieve from a charge of fault or crime; declare not guilty: They acquitted him of the crime. The jury acquitted her, but I still think she's guilty. to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation. ... to bear or conduct (oneself); behave: He acquitted himself well in battle.

What happens if one juror says not guilty?

If the jurors cannot agree on a verdict, a hung jury results, leading to a mistrial. The case is not decided, and it may be tried again at a later date before a new jury. Or the plaintiff or government may decide not to pursue the case further and there will be no subsequent trial.

What does being acquitted of a crime mean?

Definition. At the end of a criminal trial, a finding by a judge or jury that a defendant is not guilty. An acquittal signifies that a prosecutor failed to prove his or her case beyond a reasonable doubt, not that a defendant is innocent.