An acquittal is a formal declaration by a court that a person accused of a crime is not guilty. This occurs when the judge or jury determines that the prosecution failed to prove the accused's guilt 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' An acquittal is not necessarily a declaration of innocence—it simply means there wasn't enough evidence to convict. Once acquitted, a person cannot be tried again for the same offence in Canada (protection against 'double jeopardy'), though in very limited circumstances, appeals of acquittals are possible. An acquittal differs from having charges dropped or stayed, which means the case never went to trial.