What does the term “acquittal” signify in court?

The term “acquittal” signifies a legal determination by a judge or jury that the evidence presented is insufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It results in a finding of not guilty, meaning that the defendant is cleared of the charges brought against them. This outcome occurs after the prosecution has presented its case, and it explicitly indicates that the accused has not been proven guilty of the crime.

An acquittal is significant in the judicial process because it upholds the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, a fundamental principle of criminal justice. Furthermore, once an individual is acquitted, the same charges generally cannot be brought against them again due to double jeopardy protections under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Thus, an acquittal directly pertains to the outcome of a trial regarding guilt, distinguishing it from other terms related to trial proceedings, such as a mistrial, guilty verdict, or sentencing decisions.