A dismissal is a decision handed down by an investigating court that puts an end to proceedings. This decision is made prior to the trial and only in the case of a criminal investigation. It precludes a trial from being held to determine the guilt of the person being prosecuted. It may be based on insufficient evidence, the inability to identify the perpetrator of the offence, procedural irregularities, the statute of limitations, or even the death of the person being prosecuted. The investigation may be reopened if new evidence emerges at a later date.

The main difference between a dismissal and a case closed without further action is that a dismissal is a judicial decision taken by an investigating judge after a judicial investigation, while a case closed without further action is a decision taken by the public prosecutor during the preliminary investigation phase.