Charged vs. Convicted — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on January 10, 2024
Charged means formally accused of a crime; Convicted means found guilty of the crime in court.
Difference Between Charged and Convicted
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Charged refers to the formal accusation made against an individual when they are believed to have committed a crime. It is the first step in the legal process where the person is brought before the authorities and is made aware of the allegations against them. On the other hand, Convicted signifies the conclusion of a legal process, where after considering the evidence, a court or a jury finds the individual guilty of the crime they were charged with.
When someone is Charged, it does not necessarily mean they will be Convicted. Being charged only implies that there's enough preliminary evidence to believe a person might have committed a crime. Conversely, a Conviction means that, beyond a reasonable doubt, the person was proven guilty in a court of law.
Charged is the starting point in many criminal proceedings. It sets the stage for the legal journey the accused will embark upon. Convicted, conversely, often signifies the end of that journey. It's the legal system's way of affirming that the person did, in fact, commit the crime they were charged with.
While being Charged can lead to a court trial or plea deals, being Convicted can lead to penalties, fines, or imprisonment. The consequences of being charged can be stressful and damaging to one's reputation, but the consequences of being convicted are often more severe and long-lasting.
Lastly, it's crucial to remember that being Charged does not strip one of their rights, especially the right to a fair trial. Convicted individuals, however, may lose certain rights, such as the right to vote or possess firearms, depending on the severity of their crime.
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Comparison Chart
Legal Stage
Initial accusation stage
Conclusion of the legal process
Outcome
Not yet determined
Guilty
Implication
Suspected of a crime
Proven to have committed the crime
Rights
Still retains all rights
May lose certain rights
Consequences
May face trial or plea deals
Faces penalties, fines, or imprisonment
Compare with Definitions
Charged
Filled with electricity.
The battery is fully charged.
Convicted
Convinced or certain about something.
She was convicted in her belief about climate change.
Charged
Filled with emotion or intensity.
The room had a charged atmosphere after the argument.
Convicted
Showing a strong persuasion or belief.
His convicted tone left no room for doubt.
Charged
Demanded payment.
He charged me $50 for the repair.
Convicted
Found guilty in a court of law.
He was convicted of fraud.
Charged
To impose a duty, responsibility, or obligation on
Charged him with the task of watching the young swimmers.
Convicted
Having a past criminal record.
The job application asked if he was a convicted felon.
Charged
To instruct or urge authoritatively; command
Charged her not to reveal the source of information.
Convicted
Judged or condemned.
In the public's eyes, he was already convicted despite evidence to the contrary.
Charged
(Law) To instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence.
Convicted
Simple past tense and past participle of convict
Charged
To set or ask (a given amount) as a price
Charges ten dollars for a haircut.
Convicted
Pronounced or proved guilty;
The condemned man faced the firing squad with dignity
A convicted criminal
Charged
To hold financially liable; demand payment from
Charged her for the balance due.
Charged
To purchase on credit
Paid cash for the stockings but charged the new coat.
Charged
To load to capacity; fill
Charge a furnace with coal.
Charged
To load (a gun or other firearm) with a quantity of explosive
Charged the musket with powder.
Charged
To pervade or fill, as with a feeling or quality
The atmosphere was charged with tension.
Charged
To make a claim of wrongdoing against; accuse or blame
The prosecutors charged him with car theft. Critics charged the writer with a lack of originality.
Charged
To put the blame for; attribute or impute
Charged the accident to the driver's inexperience.
Charged
To rush against in an attack
The troops charged the enemy line.
Charged
(Basketball) To bump or run into (a defender) illegally while in possession of the ball or having just made a pass or shot.
Charged
(Sports) To bump (an opponent) so as to knock off balance or gain control of the ball, as in soccer.
Charged
(Sports) To body-check (an opponent) illegally, from behind or after taking more than two strides, especially in ice hockey.
Charged
To cause formation of a net electric charge on or in (a conductor, for example).
Charged
To energize (a storage battery) by passing current through it in the direction opposite to discharge.
Charged
To excite; rouse
A speaker who knows how to charge up a crowd.
Charged
To direct or put (a weapon) into position for use; level or direct.
Charged
(Heraldry) To place a charge on (an escutcheon).
Charged
To rush forward in an attack
The dog charged at the intruder.
Charged
To rush forward; run
Children charging around the house.
Charged
To demand or ask payment
Did not charge for the second cup of coffee.
Charged
To make a purchase or purchases on credit.
Charged
(Accounting) To consider or record as a loss. Often used with off.
Charged
To become energized
The battery is still charging.
Charged
Expense; cost
Added to the bill a charge for replacing the thermostat.
Charged
The price asked for something
What's the charge for a new tire?.
Charged
A debt or an entry in an account recording a debt
Are you paying cash or is this a charge?.
Charged
A financial burden, such as a tax or lien.
Charged
A weight or burden; a load
A freighter relieved of its charge of cargo.
Charged
The quantity that a container or apparatus can hold.
Charged
A quantity of explosive to be set off at one time.
Charged
An assigned duty or task; a responsibility
The commission's charge was to determine the facts.
Charged
Care; custody
A child put in my charge.
Charged
Supervision; management
The scientist who had overall charge of the research project.
Charged
One that is entrusted to another's care or management
The baby sitter's three young charges.
Charged
An order, command, or injunction.
Charged
Instruction given by a judge to a jury about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence.
Charged
A claim of wrongdoing; an accusation
A charge of murder.
Pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Charged
A rushing, forceful attack
Repelled the charge of enemy troops.
The charge of a herd of elephants.
Charged
The command to attack
The bugler sounded the charge.
Charged
The intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena, in particular for the electromagnetic force, occurring in two forms arbitrarily designated negative and positive.
Charged
The net measure of this property possessed by a body or contained in a bounded region of space, measured in coulombs, ampere-hours, or units of elementary charge. Also called electric charge.
Charged
See magnetic charge.
Charged
See color charge.
Charged
(Informal) A feeling of pleasant excitement; a thrill
Got a real charge out of the movie.
Charged
(Heraldry) A figure or device represented on the field of an escutcheon.
Charged
Simple past tense and past participle of charge
Charged
Arousing strong emotion.
Charged
Showing or having strong emotion.
Charged
Having electricity.
Charged
Of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge;
Charged particles
A charged battery
Charged
Fraught with great emotion;
An atmosphere charged with excitement
An emotionally charged speech
Charged
Supplied with carbon dioxide
Charged
Capable of producing violent emotion or arousing controversy;
The highly charged issue of abortion
Charged
Accused of a crime.
He was charged with theft.
Charged
Imposed with a task or responsibility.
She was charged with leading the project.
Common Curiosities
Can someone be Convicted without being Charged?
No, one must be charged first before they can be convicted.
If someone is Convicted, does it mean they committed the crime?
A conviction means the court found them guilty, but it's possible for wrongful convictions to occur.
What comes first, being Charged or Convicted?
Being charged comes first.
What does it mean to be Charged?
To be charged means to be formally accused of a crime.
Can charges be dropped before a Conviction?
Yes, charges can be dropped or dismissed before reaching a conviction.
Can a Convicted person appeal the decision?
Yes, a convicted person usually has the right to appeal.
Does a Conviction stay on your record permanently?
It depends on the crime and jurisdiction, but many convictions can be expunged or sealed after a period.
What does Convicted mean?
Convicted means being found guilty of a crime in a court of law.
Does being Charged mean you're guilty?
No, being charged only means you're accused. Guilt is determined later, potentially leading to a conviction.
Does being Charged affect your criminal record?
Being charged may appear on some records, but it is not the same as a conviction.
What are the consequences of being Charged?
Being charged can lead to arrest, trial, and potential damage to reputation.
What are the consequences of being Convicted?
Convicted individuals can face penalties, imprisonment, and loss of certain rights.
Can a Convicted person be tried again for the same crime?
No, once convicted, they cannot be tried again for the same crime due to Double Jeopardy.
Can a person be Charged based on suspicion alone?
Typically, charges require some form of evidence or probable cause, not just suspicion.
Can a person be Charged multiple times for the same crime?
Typically, no, due to the Double Jeopardy clause, which prevents being tried twice for the same crime.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
