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Simple English definitions for legal terms
acquittal
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A quick definition of acquittal:
An acquittal means that the person accused of a crime is found not guilty by a judge or jury. This means that there was not enough evidence to prove that the person committed the crime. Once someone is acquitted, they cannot be tried again for the same crime. However, if there is evidence of another crime, they can still be punished for that. It's important to remember that an acquittal only applies to the person who was on trial and cannot be used to prove that someone else is innocent.
A more thorough explanation:
An acquittal is a legal decision that a person accused of a crime is not guilty. This decision is made by a judge or a jury after considering all the evidence presented in court. When someone is acquitted, they are cleared of the charges against them and cannot be tried again for the same crime. This is protected by the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
For example, if someone is accused of stealing a car and is found not guilty after a trial, they are acquitted of the crime. They cannot be tried again for stealing that same car.
It's important to note that an acquittal only applies to the specific crime that was charged. If there is evidence of another crime, the person can still be charged and tried for that crime.