Acquittal Vs Dismissal

Criminal Law Lawyer

If you have been acquitted of any criminal charges that have been brought against you, this means you have been freed of these charges. When the jury comes to a not guilty verdict or if a judge closes your case, you have been acquitted. Double jeopardy applies here and your case will not be appealed if you are acquitted of the criminal charges. A judge may dismiss charges if there is not enough evidence to try a person.  A judge or jury may not always agree with the charges brought against someone by the prosecutor, and thus, acquittals arise. Prosecutors are supposed to gather as much evidence and bring this forth to prove that their charges and evidence are valid. If for some reason even the prosecutor believes there is not enough evidence to charge someone, they may drop the charges. But this is not the same as an acquittal according to our friends at The Lynch Law Group.

When discussing dismissals, this may occur before or after the case even begins. Lack of evidence plays a huge part in deciding to dismiss a case. There is also a possibility that the prosecution has no solidifying cause for the charges. By having a case dismissed, money, time, and resources are preserved.

If there have been any violations of constitutional rights a judge may dismiss the case, this typically influences larger problems to come about and this is not good for the court or the prosecutor. Dismissed charges can be filed again because they were never tried in front of a judge. However, once you are acquitted those charges cannot be filed against you again, at least not pursuant to the same case.

Both dismissed and acquitted charges may show up on your criminal record. It will show as dismissed or acquitted, but they will not be removed from your record unless your record has been expunged. Law varies from state to state with regards to charges on your criminal record, job applications may ask that you explain any criminal history and while these charges appear on your record as dismissed, they may still affect you in some way.

If you or someone you know has been accused of criminal charges, it is wise to speak with a skilled criminal defense attorney. There is always a possibility that you can have your charges, dropped, dismissed, or be acquitted. You are innocent until proven guilty; with the right attorney you may remain innocent.

A lawyer will stand by your side to represent your case, and they will conduct a thorough investigation to prove your innocence of the charges you are facing; they will also be able to negotiate for you if needed. Speak with a skilled lawyer near you for more information about your specific case. Do not wait, it is better to reach out to a lawyer as soon as you are aware of your charges in order for them to be able to better help your case and understand the charges being brought against you.

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