An Arizona Judgment in a Criminal Case is the official ruling made by a court when it finds a person guilty of a crime. The judgment can be a conviction, deferred adjudication, acquittal, or dismissal. A conviction is the most serious type of Arizona Judgment in a Criminal Case. It is when the court finds the accused person guilty and imposes a sentence, such as a fine or jail time. Deferred adjudication is when the court agrees to postpone a decision on whether to convict the accused person. This type of judgment can be given in lieu of a conviction and typically entails probation or community service. An acquittal is when the court finds the accused person not guilty of the crime. The defendant will be released from any criminal charges and their record will be clear. A dismissal is when the court orders the charges against the accused person to be dropped. This type of judgment is typically given when there is not enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.