After a trial, there are only four verdicts available. All verdicts in a criminal case must be unanimous.
Guilty: If a jury finds the defendant guilty, the defendant’s next step is a sentencing hearing. The defendant has the right to be sentenced within 30 days, or if he chooses, the same day of conviction.
Not-guilty: If a jury finds the defendant not-guilty, the defendant is free to leave and the case is over. The defendant cannot be charged again for the same crime on the same facts (double jeopardy).
Not-guilty by reason of insanity: If a jury finds the defendant not-guilty by reason of insanity, the defendant may be moved to a psychiatric hospital where they will be treated. Sometimes, the time spent in this hospital will be longer than the prison sentence they would have gotten with a guilty plea.
Guilty and mentally ill: If a jury finds the defendant guilty and mentally ill, the defendant will go to prison, a psychiatric hospital, or a combination of both.
Tags: guilty, not-guilty, verdict
