____________ - After the closing arguments, the jury is asked to discuss the case among themselves to determine if they think the defendant is guilty or not. Once the jury makes their decision, they notify the judge. If the verdict is not guilty, the defendant is released.
If the verdict is guilty, the judge will schedule a sentencing hearing where the defendant will receive their punishment for the crime they were found guilty of. This could include prison time, fines, probation, or other consequences.
