If a defendant is found not guilty after a trial, the verdict is called what?

• A. Acquittal
• B. Parole
• C. Indict
• D. Jurisdiction

Answer: (A)

The not guilty verdict is called an acquittal. In a trial, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If the evidence doesn’t meet that standard, the jury (or judge in a bench trial) renders an acquittal, meaning the defendant is cleared of the charges for that case. An acquittal ends the case on those charges and is final due to protections against double jeopardy. The other terms don’t fit: parole is release after a sentence, an indictment is a formal charging document, and jurisdiction refers to a court’s authority to hear a case.