A conviction is a determination by a court of law that a defendant is guilty of a crime. Convictions may follow a guilty plea or the result of a jury trial in which a verdict of guilt is delivered. A judge can also enter a conviction as part of a final judgment in which she or he finds all the facts necessary to prove a specific criminal charge.
A person convicted of a crime loses many rights. In addition to jail or prison time, federal and state convictions can bar a person from holding certain types of jobs or from obtaining professional licenses (such as those for barbers, manicurists or interior designers) or from living in certain communities. In some cases, a person can appeal his or her conviction or sentence to achieve a dismissal of the case, a reduction in a sentence or other favorable outcome. However, legal grounds must exist to file an appeal and the correct procedures must be followed.
A court’s determination that a defendant is guilty of a particular crime must be supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the evidence must be so clear and complete that no realistic doubts about the factual allegations remain in the minds of ordinary people. Despite this requirement, the truth is that wrongful convictions do occur. In fact, EJI has documented hundreds of wrongful convictions and helped free nearly 100 people who were incarcerated for crimes they did not commit.