§ 136.455 General verdict on plea of not guilty

When someone pleads not guilty and their case goes to trial, the jury (or judge in some cases) has to reach a final decision. This decision is called a general verdict. The verdict can only be one of two things: guilty or not guilty.

If the verdict is guilty, it means the jury found that the person committed the crime they were charged with in the court papers. If the verdict is not guilty, it means the jury did not find enough proof that the person committed that crime.

This rule keeps things simple. It does not allow for partial answers or in-between outcomes. The jury must pick one of the two options based on the charge that was actually filed against the person.