Define: Acquitted

Being acquitted means that a person accused of a crime has been found not guilty by a court of law. It signifies that the evidence presented against the accused was not sufficient to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Yes, a person can be acquitted if they are innocent. The purpose of a criminal trial is to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused based on the evidence presented. If the evidence does not establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the accused should be acquitted.

After being acquitted, a person is generally released from custody if they were held during the trial. They are considered innocent and should not face any further legal consequences for the crime they were accused of.

In most cases, a person cannot be retried for the same offense after being acquitted. The principle of double jeopardy, which is protected by the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, prohibits a person from being tried twice for the same crime.

There are some exceptions to the double jeopardy rule. For example, if new evidence emerges that was not available during the initial trial, or if there was a mistrial due to a procedural error, a retrial may be possible. However, these exceptions are limited and subject to specific legal requirements.

Yes, an acquitted person may have the right to sue the state for wrongful prosecution. If it can be proven that the prosecution acted maliciously or without probable cause, resulting in harm to the accused, they may be entitled to compensation for damages.

An acquittal does not automatically erase a person’s criminal record. However, in some jurisdictions, an acquitted person may be eligible to have their record expunged or sealed, depending on the specific laws and regulations in place.

Yes, an acquitted person can still be sued in a civil court for damages related to the same incident. The burden of proof in a civil case is lower than in a criminal case, so even if the person was acquitted in a criminal trial, they may still be found liable in a civil lawsuit.

In general, an acquitted person cannot be arrested again for the same crime. However, if new evidence emerges that was not available during the initial trial, or if there is evidence of a different crime related to the same incident, the person may be subject to arrest and a new trial.

While an acquitted person should not be denied employment or housing solely based on their past accusation, it is possible that some employers or landlords may consider the accusation during their decision-making process. However, it is important to note that discrimination based on an acquitted person’s past accusation may be illegal under certain circumstances.