Cal. PEN § 1151

This is the official text of Cal. PEN § 1151, part of California’s Penal Code — defines crimes and sets criminal procedure in California.

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Official statutory text

A general verdict upon a plea of not guilty is either “guilty” or “not guilty,” which imports a conviction or acquittal of the offense charged in the accusatory pleading. Upon a plea of a former conviction or acquittal of the offense charged, or upon a plea of once in jeopardy, the general verdict is either “for the people” or “for the defendant.” When the defendant is acquitted on the ground of a variance between the accusatory pleading and the proof, the verdict is “not guilty by reason of variance between charge and proof.”

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

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