If you’re arrested, it’s easy to start thinking about worst-case scenarios. If you’re facing a felony charge, your mind might race to typical sentences for the crime you’re accused of. Even if you’re caught up in the criminal justice system for misdemeanor offenses, you’ll probably think about the impact a conviction might have on employment, family, and day-to-day life.

Fortunately, there are many steps and actions you can take to help you try to avoid these worst-case scenarios. With the right factors on your side, you may even find your case acquitted when you appear before a New York City criminal court.

In this guide, we’ll explain what acquittal is and some of the paths that can take you from your initial arrest to being told you’re free from your charges. We’ll also cover each step in the arrest-to-trial process, so you can better understand the impact that each step and decision has on your chances of acquittal.

What does acquittal mean?

In U.S. law, the terms “acquittal” and “not guilty” are often used interchangeably, although there are slight differences in meaning. Both of these terms refer to an outcome in which the defendant leaves the court having been found not guilty of the charged offenses.

When a prosecution fails to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a judge or jury will reach a not-guilty verdict. This is the judge or jury’s decision rather than a legal decision. This verdict is then enacted by the judge, who passes the final legal decision on the case – which, for not-guilty cases, is known as “acquittal.”

So, in effect, the outcome is the same. The legal decision to grant an acquittal will come immediately after a verdict is delivered.

Acquittal can be achieved in two different ways:

1. A judge’s decision in a bench trial (a trial without a jury), where the judge serves as the fact-finder and determines the verdict.
2. A jury’s verdict in a jury trial, where the jury members collectively decide the defendant’s guilt or innocence.

How do you go from arrest to acquittal?

It’s generally assumed that a criminal defense attorney does most of their hard work in a courtroom – carefully creating a narrative that helps to ensure justice is fairly applied.

While this is what Hollywood movies and Netflix dramas would lead you to believe, this really isn’t the case. In fact, long before any court proceeding, lawyers will be working to support clients through every step of the process – maximizing their chances of being found not guilty should the case go to trial.

Let’s look at how each one of the steps – starting even before an arrest – can help lead to a case being acquitted:

Understanding your rights during the arrest process

If you’re arrested or believe you could be facing arrest, it’s important that you understand your constitutional rights and how they apply to criminal procedure law.

Understanding your rights is essential because it gives you the power to protect your civil liberties and do your best in ensuring fair treatment during legal proceedings. Understanding that you have a right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the right to due process can help to make sure you have a firm foundation under your case.

In very real terms, this prevents any abuses of just processes by a police officer or other law enforcement professionals. Without a full understanding of your rights, you could find yourself pressured to make uninformed decisions that could seriously impact your chances of acquittal.

Legal representation

You may have legal representation before an arrest – but most people first access legal support after an arrest.

Having a lawyer present after an arrest significantly improves your chances of acquittal or a favorable outcome. Your attorney will be able to provide guidance on exercising your right to remain silent, avoiding self-incrimination, and making sure any possible questioning stays within legal boundaries.

Your lawyer will be able to identify and challenge any violations of your rights and help to avoid miscommunication that could lead to incorrect confessions or misleading statements.

Having a lawyer from this early stage also helps when building a defense, gathering evidence, and potentially negotiating with the prosecution – all factors that can lead to acquittal or a more positive outcome.

Criminal court arraignment

Having an experienced attorney by your side during the arraignment process can make a huge difference to the outcome of your case.

Firstly, your lawyer will help you make an informed decision about your plea. Needless to say, if you plead guilty or no contest, you will not be acquitted – but they will be able to offer advice around making a not-guilty plea. Your attorney will also be able to more effectively argue for bail or release conditions – which can help to free you up to be involved in planning your defense with your lawyer.

Since there is often a lengthy wait between arraignment and trial, having your lawyer involved at this stage helps to maximize the amount of time they can spend on your defense. This time will also help your counsel to identify key witnesses that can be utilized in your trial.

Pre-trial motions and hearings

Again, having skilled legal representation through pre-trial motions and hearings will significantly improve your chances of having your case acquitted.

Your attorney will be more likely to:

• Be able to challenge evidence if they believe it to be illegally obtained or unreliable, thus weakening the prosecution’s case.
• Protect your rights, preventing any violations that could negatively impact your chances of an acquittal.
• Identify legal issues, such as challenging the sufficiency of the indictment or asserting the right to a speedy trial.
• Robustly prepare for trial by gaining insights into the prosecution’s strategy, evidence, and witness list and therefore being able to prepare counterarguments.
• Be able to advocate for favorable trial conditions, such as a change of venue or jury selection criteria, ensuring a fair and impartial trial

Discovery and investigation

If you’re focused on working towards an acquittal in a criminal court case, the right attorney will increase your chances significantly when it comes to the discovery and investigation phase of the trial.

A skilled attorney will meticulously examine evidence that an Assistant District Attorney brings to the case, identifying weaknesses, inconsistencies, and potential exculpatory information that could benefit your defense. This work can be reinforced by investigating the case independently, gathering additional evidence, locating witnesses, and uncovering facts that could strengthen the defense or contradict the prosecution’s narrative.

Of course, an attorney is also there to hold to account the District Attorney’s office, the New York City Police Department, and any expert witnesses that the prosecution calls. It’s essential to scrutinize the credibility and reliability of representatives from any New York City department called to appear in court. This works both ways though – so a skilled attorney will also be able to prepare defense witnesses accordingly and make sure they’re clear, consistent, and can stand up to cross-examination.

Trial preparation and the trial

When there’s so much on the line, appearing in court as a defendant can be an overwhelming experience – especially if you’ve rejected plea deals and you’re aiming for acquittal. When your court date comes around, having an experienced trial lawyer with you can make a huge difference.

Good legal representation will help you to understand how to effectively testify, if necessary, and provide guidance on courtroom demeanor, ensuring you present your defense in the best possible light. Your attorney will also anticipate the prosecution’s line of questioning and prepare you for rigorous cross-examination, ensuring your testimony remains consistent and persuasive.

Of course, there’s also a huge amount of court administration logistics to deal with too – including making sure all witnesses, exhibits, and evidence are prepared – along with carefully crafted opening and closing statements. Needless to say, every element of your courtroom appearance can make or break your chances of acquittal.

Jury deliberations and verdict

Although it’s a pivotal time for your chances of acquittal, the jury deliberations and verdict delivery phase is one that your attorney cannot have any input in – so at this stage, you’re relying on your legal representation to have done an excellent job during your trial.

That said, an experienced attorney will monitor for misconduct – looking for any signs of improper behavior from the jury. This could look like improper communication between jurors and outside parties, bias, or the consideration of extraneous information. If discovered, the attorney can raise these issues to the court, which could lead to a mistrial.

Post-trial motions and appeals

At this stage, the hope would be that the jury decides on a not-guilty verdict and that your acquittal is passed – but this obviously isn’t guaranteed.

Should the jury return a guilty verdict, then your attorney will likely keep exploring options and actions that could lead to subsequent acquittal. This could include:

• Filing of post-trial motions – including the possibility of filing for a new trial
• Compiling records of evidence to support an appeal
• Preparing a compelling appellate brief

If the appeals process commences, an effective attorney will present oral arguments before the appellate court, explaining the legal issues and errors that occurred during the original trial. If this is unsuccessful, your legal counsel may look at other post-conviction options, possibly questioning whether your detention is lawful or beginning motions for a new trial based on new evidence.

Acquittal

Whether the jury delivers a not-guilty verdict or your conviction is overturned in the court of appeal, finding yourself acquitted of any crime can put your life back on track.

That said, it’s still important to have your attorney by your side at this stage. Not only will they fully explain the consequences of the acquittal, but they will also help you to file for an expungement or sealing of your record. Since this does not happen automatically in New York, it’s always best to consult with an attorney who is up-to-date on the current processes involved.

The steps to a criminal case acquittal in NYC: Conclusion

Hopefully, this helps you to understand the steps that can potentially occur between an arrest and an acquittal for a criminal case being heard here in New York.

As you can see, not only is it essential that you understand your rights throughout the process – it’s also essential that you have a skilled criminal defense attorney on your side. A good attorney can help you navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system, from the arrest and arraignment to trial preparation and potential appeals.

Ultimately, an acquittal can put your life back on track, but it is crucial to have continued legal support to ensure the proper sealing of the criminal record – letting you truly return to the way of life before your arrest.