Adjourned in Contemplation of Dismissal

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In law, Adjourned in Contemplation of Dismissal, or ACD, is a form of probation offered to an arrestee.

An ACD is offered with the expectation that the case will be dismissed once the probation period is over, provided the defendant commits no further offenses of any kind. Under the Criminal Procedure Law, when charges against a defendant are dismissed, either directly or after a period of adjournment under the ACD, the defendant is restored to the status he occupied prior to the arrest. Therefore, all records of the arrest and charges brought against the defendant are non-existent once the ACD has expired.

Because an ACD is not an admission of guilt, it is commonly offered to protesters who were arrested to deter the defendant from committing illegal acts while the ACD is active.