Legal Definitions - acquittal

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.