Charged vs. convicted
Charged means a prosecutor has formally accused someone of a crime. Convicted means the person pleaded guilty or was found guilty in court. A charge is an accusation, not a finding.
Charged
A charge starts a case. A prosecutor files a document, usually a criminal complaint, that says what the person is accused of and why. Nothing in it has been proven yet.
Convicted
A conviction ends one. It happens when the person pleads guilty, or a judge or jury finds them guilty. Many charges never become convictions: cases are dismissed, reduced, or end in acquittal.
Why CAWPS says “alleged”
Every CAWPS episode is based on a complaint, which means it is based on an accusation. Everyone shown is presumed innocent. If a case is dismissed or ends in an acquittal, tell us and we will update or remove the episode.
Checked October 3, 2026. General information, not legal advice.