Which term refers to the freeing of a person accused of a crime due to lack of evidence?

Which term refers to the freeing of a person accused of a crime due to lack of evidence?

• A. Parole
• B. Acquittal
• C. Indictment
• D. Probation

Answer: (B)

Acquittal is the term for a not-guilty finding when the evidence presented by the prosecution fails to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. When this happens, the person is freed and the case ends in their favor, with the protection that they generally cannot be tried again for the same offense. This is different from parole or probation, which are forms of supervised release after a conviction, and from indictment, which is the formal accusation that starts a criminal case. So the freeing of a person accused due to lack of evidence is an acquittal.

Acquittal is the term for a not-guilty finding when the evidence presented by the prosecution fails to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. When this happens, the person is freed and the case ends in their favor, with the protection that they generally cannot be tried again for the same offense. This is different from parole or probation, which are forms of supervised release after a conviction, and from indictment, which is the formal accusation that starts a criminal case. So the freeing of a person accused due to lack of evidence is an acquittal.