preconviction
/ˌpriːkənˈvɪkʃən/
noun
- A legal finding of guilt that is made before a trial or formal conviction, often as part of a plea agreement or preliminary hearing.
- In some jurisdictions, a preconviction can be used to speed up the judicial process.
- The lawyer argued that the preconviction was based on insufficient evidence.
- The defendant accepted a preconviction deal to avoid a lengthy trial.