Can someone be retried if they are found not guilty?

Asked by: Chet Boehm  |  Last update: August 1, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (64 votes)

A defendant whose conviction was reversed on appeal may be retried without violating double jeopardy. However, any charge of which the defendant was found not guilty the first time cannot be retried.

Can someone found not guilty be retried?

There is no possibility of retrial for the same offense. But it may be difficult at times to determine whether the trial judge's action was in fact an acquittal or whether it was a dismissal or some other action, which the prosecution may be able to appeal or the judge may be able to reconsider.

Can someone be found guilty after being found not guilty?

Double Jeopardy protections

This clause protects people from being tried more than once for the same offense. If you have been acquitted of a criminal charge, you cannot be tried again. This is the main difference between an acquittal and being not guilty under criminal law.

Can someone be tried again if new evidence is found?

In California law, this protection is codified in Penal Code 687 PC, which states: "No person can be subjected to a second prosecution for a public offense for which he has once been prosecuted and convicted or acquitted."

What are the exceptions to double jeopardy?

Exceptions to double jeopardy in criminal law include the following:
  • Trial by Different Governments. Different governments may try the same defendant for the same crime on the same facts. ...
  • If the Jeopardy Didn't 'Attach' ...
  • Civil Cases and Criminal Charges. ...
  • Other Exceptions.

Court Cam: Crowd Cheers for Wrongfully Convicted Man Found NOT Guilty (Season 1) | A&E

27 related questions found

Can you be tried for the same crime twice if new evidence is found in the UK?

The rule against double jeopardy is only lifted once in respect of each qualifying offence: even if there is a subsequent discovery of new evidence, the prosecution may not apply for an order quashing the acquittal and seeking a retrial section 75(3).

Can I sue after being found not guilty?

Yes. Dropped charges could make a malicious prosecution claim possible. But when a verdict was rendered, it may be more difficult to pursue a civil claim after the fact. Before a criminal case can proceed to the trial phase, the court must find probable cause.

When can a case not be tried again?

If a defendant is acquitted, whether by a jury verdict or a judge's ruling, the protection against double jeopardy is fully realized. The government cannot appeal an acquittal or subject the defendant to a new trial for the same offense.

Can old evidence be used in a retrial?

After-discovered evidence is an issue predominantly in criminal proceedings and may be used as the basis for a motion for a new trial .

Can new evidence reopen a case?

Grounds for Reopening a Case

New Evidence: One of the most compelling reasons for reopening a case is the emergence of new evidence that was not available or known at the time of the original trial. This evidence must be material and such that, had it been presented initially, it could have led to a different verdict.

What happens if you plead not guilty and are found guilty?

But of course, even if you plead not guilty, you can still be found guilty of some or all of your charges after the trial. That means you may be subject to full sentencing — and the previous plea bargains offered to you will no longer be available.

Can you be found guilty without proof?

Yes—actually, most criminal convictions are based solely on circumstantial evidence. Further, California criminal law allows the prosecution to convict a defendant on circumstantial evidence alone.

Can you overturn a not guilty verdict?

Jury verdicts are statements of the community. Therefore they are given great respect. Furthermore in a criminal case, a judge cannot overturn a verdict of not guilty as that would violate a defendant's 5th amendment right. To overturn a guilty verdict there must be clear evidence that offers reasonable doubt.

Can you be found guilty after being found not guilty?

If you are acquitted of certain charges but found guilty of others, you cannot be retried for the charges where you were found not guilty due to the double jeopardy protections.

Can you retrial after pleading guilty?

If you felt compelled to plead guilty to a crime that you did not commit or that you entered an invalid guilty plea, you may still have options. California law gives you the option of withdrawing your guilty plea, appealing your conviction, pursuing a writ of habeas corpus, or petitioning the CDCR for a resentencing ...

Can you be tried again after a hung jury?

A hung jury, also called a deadlocked jury, is a judicial jury that cannot agree upon a verdict after extended deliberation and is unable to reach the required unanimity or supermajority. A hung jury may result in the case being tried again. This situation can occur only in common law legal systems.

How many times can a case be retried?

How many times can a defendant be retried? For those facing hung jury retrials, it's as many times as the government pleases. Double jeopardy prohibitions do not apply when juries fail to reach a verdict. There is, theoretically, a built-in procedural solution to stop the government from endlessly retrying defendants.

Can someone be retried if new evidence is found?

A retrial is only possible by ground of a 'novum': the situation in which new evidence has come to light and in which it seems that, had the judge known of this evidence, the defendant would have been prosecuted.

Can your past be used against you in court?

The presentation of character evidence is often forbidden by California's evidentiary laws. This means that the prosecution cannot use evidence of wrongdoings you have previously committed (whether or not they were crimes) to show that you committed the alleged crime.

Can a case be reopened after found not guilty?

A defendant whose conviction was reversed on appeal may be retried without violating double jeopardy. However, any charge of which the defendant was found not guilty the first time cannot be retried.

How many times can a lawyer ask for a continuance?

If the defense is asking for continuances, he would be expected to provide the judge with a good reason for it Without a good reason, the judge won't grant it. With a valid reason, one side or the other can almost always get a continuance. There's no set amount of continuances that can be obtained.

Does the same judge hear a retrial?

A new trial would be a new hearing with the same judge. Basically, you would argue that there was evidence that you didn't get to present that the judge should consider.

Do you get paid for time served if found not guilty?

Unfortunately no, the individual is not entitled to payment for time served I'm afraid unless the court orders that or there is a local regulation about that.

What is it called when a defendant is found not guilty?

Acquittal. A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction.

Does a not guilty case go on your record?

A not guilty verdict does appear on your criminal record. It's right there with your original arrest and the charges the state levied against you. And even though you're not guilty of committing the crime, you have a criminal record – unless you choose to do something about it.