Final answer:
The statement 'The defendant may be found guilty or innocent in a criminal case' is true; if not guilty, the defendant is released unless facing other charges, and if guilty, sentencing follows. The legal system requires guilt to be proved 'beyond a reasonable doubt' in criminal cases, and 'double jeopardy' prevents the retrial of the same offense in the same legal branch.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a criminal case, the defendant may indeed be found either guilty or not guilty, which makes the statement True. If a defendant is declared not guilty, they will be released unless they are facing other charges. However, if found guilty, the judge will impose a sentence based on legal guidelines and the specifics of the case. Sentencing can include a range of penalties, from fines to imprisonment, and in some instances, capital punishment may be pursued, which would require the jury to decide on the matter. The legal system in the United States ensures that these determinations are made with a high burden of proof, requiring the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal trials, which is a more stringent standard than the preponderance of the evidence required in civil trials.
Additionally, the concept of double jeopardy, protected by the Bill of Rights, prevents an individual from being tried again for the same offense in the same branch of the legal system once acquitted. Therefore, a person found not guilty in a criminal court could later face a civil lawsuit over the same matter, as these are distinct branches of law.