charges dismissed

In criminal law, charges are said to be dismissed when a prosecutor or judge decides not to continue pursuing a case after a trial has started. Charges may be dismissed by a prosecutor for several reasons, including evidentiary issues or plea negotiations. A judge may dismiss charges for, among other reasons, missed deadlines, 4th Amendment violations, or lack of jurisdiction    

See this study: Reject or Dismiss: A Prosecutor’s Dilemma

See also: charges dropped

[Last reviewed in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Wex

• THE LEGAL PROCESS
• courts
• criminal law
• criminal procedure
• wex definitions
• courts and procedure
• criminal law and procedure