What is the outcome of a trial if the jury finds the defendant not guilty?

When a jury finds the defendant not guilty, the outcome of the trial is termed an acquittal. This means that the prosecution has not met its burden of proving the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and as a result, the defendant is released from the charges associated with that trial. An acquittal can occur in criminal cases, reflecting the legal principle that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A conviction would imply that the jury found the defendant guilty of the charges against them, which is contrary to the definition of an acquittal. A plea bargain refers to an agreement between the defendant and the prosecutor where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge, leading to a conviction, which again would not apply in the context of a not guilty finding. Suspension typically refers to a temporary halt in certain rights or privileges, which is not relevant to the jury's verdict in a trial context. Thus, acquittal accurately describes the scenario where a jury finds a defendant not guilty.