Upon completion of the instructions, the judge excuses the jury to their deliberations. Overall, the time spent on deliberations varies substantially, usually depending upon the strength of evidence presented. During their deliberations, the jury can request parts of transcripts, testimonies, etc. In most states, a unanimous decision is required. However, a handful of states allow a simple majority to determine a verdict.
Several outcomes are possible.
First, the jury may become deadlocked , which means the jurors were unable to reach any kind of consensus about the case. If this is the situation, the prosecution has the option to retry the case. Secondly, the jury can return a not guilty verdict, at which point the trial ends. However, the prosecution may appeal the case. All of these decisions are read in open court and the judge usually asks each member their vote, therefore, ensuring validity of the system.