Eli5 What does the term technicality mean when it comes to the law

Question

I genuinely don’t understand what a technicality is, and I really want to know.

In: 1

Answer 1

From my observations, “getting off on a technicality” is sometimes used for acquittals also.

Even if all rules and procedures are followed properly by the police and prosecutor(s), a jury can still acquit because the evidence presented does not meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard. The failure to meet that standard is often called a “technicality” by people who don’t fully understand legal procedures and such.