What is the difference between an acquittal and a dismissal in criminal cases?

In New Hampshire, an acquittal and a dismissal are two different outcomes of a criminal trial. An acquittal means that the defendant was proven “not guilty” of the charges against them. This means that the jury or judge found that the defendant did not break the law, whether due to lack of evidence or other factors. A dismissal, on the other hand, means that the charges against the defendant were not pursued for any number of reasons. This could be because the prosecutor decided there was not enough evidence, or they felt that the case was too weak to pursue. It could also be because the judge felt that the charge was inappropriate or that the defendant has already gone through enough. In a dismissal, the defendant is not found guilty or not guilty--it’s almost like the case never happened. Both an acquittal and dismissal outcomes can have serious effects on the defendant’s future. An acquittal indicates that the defendant was found not guilty of the crime they were accused of, while a dismissal means that the defendant was not found guilty or not guilty of the crime, but it is still on their record. Depending on the original charges, this can have serious implications in terms of employment and civil rights.

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