What is typically the outcome of a successful criminal prosecution?

A successful criminal prosecution generally results in imprisonment or fines for the convicted individual. This reflects the primary objective of the criminal justice system, which is to hold individuals accountable for their actions and to impose penalties that serve as deterrents for future crimes. When a person is found guilty of a criminal offense, the court typically has the authority to impose various forms of punishment, including incarceration, probation, or financial penalties.

The emphasis on imprisonment or fines underscores the nature of criminal law, which is designed to address behaviors deemed harmful to society. The imposition of these penalties serves multiple purposes: protecting the public, administering justice, and upholding the rule of law. Other options, while they may be relevant in specific contexts, do not encapsulate the direct legal outcome of a criminal prosecution in the same way as imprisonment or fines do.