What is a Grand Jury?

2021-05-24

what

In the American legal system, a grand jury is a group of citizens who are usually called upon by a court to determine whether there is enough evidence to prosecute someone for a crime. This is known as an "indictment." Grand juries are not trials, and they do not determine guilt or innocence. Instead, they decide whether there is enough evidence to move forward with the case. If the grand jury decides that there is enough evidence, the case will go to trial. If the grand jury decides that there is not enough evidence, the case will be dismissed.

Grand juries are made up of 16 to 23 people who are selected from voter registration lists. They are typically chosen randomly, but some jurisdictions allow for jurors to be selected based on their knowledge of a particular case. Grand jurors must be at least 21 years old and must be U.S. citizens. They must also be able to speak and understand English.

Now that you have a basic understanding of what a grand jury is, let's take a closer look at their role in the criminal justice system.

what is a grand jury

Grand juries are citizen panels that review evidence.

Investigate potential crimes
Determine if there's enough evidence
Issue indictments for trial
16 to 23 jurors
Selected randomly
Serve for a fixed term
Proceedings are secret

Grand juries play an important role in the criminal justice system by ensuring that only those cases with sufficient evidence go to trial.

Investigate potential crimes

One of the main functions of a grand jury is to investigate potential crimes. This can be done in a number of ways, including:

Reviewing evidence: Grand juries are given access to all the evidence that has been gathered by law enforcement, including witness statements, physical evidence, and expert testimony. They review this evidence to determine if there is enough to support an indictment.
Hearing from witnesses: Grand juries can also subpoena witnesses to testify before them. This allows them to hear firsthand accounts of what happened and to gather additional evidence.
Issuing subpoenas: Grand juries can issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify or to produce documents. This power is essential to their ability to gather evidence and build a case.

Grand jury investigations are typically conducted in secret. This is to protect the privacy of the witnesses and to prevent the release of information that could jeopardize the case. However, the grand jury's findings are made public once an indictment is issued.

Grand juries play an important role in the criminal justice system by ensuring that only those cases with sufficient evidence go to trial. They also help to protect the rights of the accused by ensuring that they are not subjected to a trial without probable cause.

Determine if there's enough evidence

After the grand jury has investigated a potential crime, they must decide whether there is enough evidence to indict the suspect. This is a critical decision, as it determines whether the case will go to trial.

To make this decision, the grand jury must weigh all of the evidence that has been presented to them. This includes evidence from both the prosecution and the defense. The grand jury must also consider the credibility of the witnesses and the strength of the evidence.

If the grand jury believes that there is enough evidence to support an indictment, they will issue an indictment. This is a formal document that charges the suspect with a crime. The indictment must contain a brief description of the crime, the date and place it occurred, and the name of the suspect.

If the grand jury does not believe that there is enough evidence to support an indictment, they will issue a "no bill." This means that the charges against the suspect are dropped. The suspect is then free to go, and the case is closed.

Issue indictments for trial

If a grand jury decides that there is enough evidence to support an indictment, they will issue an indictment. This is a formal document that charges the suspect with a crime.

What is an indictment?
An indictment is a written statement that accuses a person of a crime. It must contain a brief description of the crime, the date and place it occurred, and the name of the suspect.
Who issues indictments?
Indictments are issued by grand juries.
What happens after an indictment is issued?
Once an indictment is issued, the suspect is arrested and taken to jail. They will then be arraigned, which is a court hearing where they are formally charged with the crime. The suspect will then enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
What is the role of the grand jury in the indictment process?
The grand jury's role is to determine if there is enough evidence to support an indictment. They do this by reviewing the evidence and hearing testimony from witnesses. If they believe that there is enough evidence, they will issue an indictment.

Indictments are an important part of the criminal justice system. They help to ensure that only those cases with sufficient evidence go to trial. They also protect the rights of the accused by ensuring that they are not subjected to a trial without probable cause.

16 to 23 jurors

Grand juries are made up of 16 to 23 jurors. The exact number varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. For example, in some states, grand juries have 18 jurors, while in others they have 23.

Jurors are selected randomly from voter registration lists. This ensures that grand juries are representative of the community. Jurors must be at least 21 years old and must be U.S. citizens. They must also be able to speak and understand English.

Once jurors have been selected, they are sworn in and begin their duties. Grand juries typically meet for several weeks or months. During this time, they hear evidence from witnesses and review documents. They also deliberate and vote on whether to issue indictments.

The size of a grand jury is important because it helps to ensure that there is a diversity of opinions and perspectives. This helps to prevent the grand jury from being biased towards either the prosecution or the defense.

Grand juries play an important role in the criminal justice system. They help to ensure that only those cases with sufficient evidence go to trial. They also protect the rights of the accused by ensuring that they are not subjected to a trial without probable cause.

Selected randomly

Grand jurors are selected randomly from voter registration lists. This ensures that grand juries are representative of the community.

Why are grand jurors selected randomly?
Grand jurors are selected randomly to ensure that they are representative of the community and that they do not have any biases towards either the prosecution or the defense.
How are grand jurors selected?
Grand jurors are selected from voter registration lists. In some jurisdictions, grand jurors may also be selected from other sources, such as driver's license records or tax rolls.
Who is eligible to serve as a grand juror?
To be eligible to serve as a grand juror, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years old, and able to speak and understand English. You must also be a resident of the county where the grand jury is serving.
What are the duties of a grand juror?
Grand jurors listen to evidence and review documents to determine if there is enough evidence to indict a suspect. They also deliberate and vote on whether to issue indictments.

The random selection of grand jurors is an important part of the grand jury process. It helps to ensure that grand juries are fair and impartial.

Serve for a fixed term

Grand jurors serve for a fixed term, which varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some states, grand jurors serve for one year, while in others they serve for two or three years. Once their term is up, they are replaced by a new group of jurors.

The fixed term of service for grand jurors is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps to ensure that grand juries are representative of the community. As the jurors' terms expire, new jurors are selected from the voter registration lists. This ensures that the grand jury is always made up of a diverse group of people with different backgrounds and experiences.

Second, the fixed term of service helps to prevent grand juries from becoming too powerful. If grand jurors were allowed to serve indefinitely, they could potentially become a permanent fixture in the criminal justice system. This could lead to the grand jury becoming a tool for political oppression or persecution.

Finally, the fixed term of service helps to ensure that grand juries remain impartial. If grand jurors were allowed to serve for an indefinite period of time, they could potentially develop biases towards either the prosecution or the defense. The fixed term of service helps to prevent this from happening.

Proceedings are secret

Grand jury proceedings are secret. This means that the public is not allowed to attend grand jury hearings and that the evidence and testimony presented to the grand jury is not made public.

Why are grand jury proceedings secret?
Grand jury proceedings are secret to protect the privacy of the witnesses and to prevent the release of information that could jeopardize the case.
What happens during a grand jury proceeding?
During a grand jury proceeding, the prosecutor presents evidence and testimony to the grand jury. The grand jury then deliberates and votes on whether to issue an indictment.
Who is allowed to be present at a grand jury proceeding?
Only the grand jurors, the prosecutor, and the court reporter are allowed to be present at a grand jury proceeding.
What are the consequences of violating grand jury secrecy?
Violating grand jury secrecy is a crime. Anyone who violates grand jury secrecy could be fined or imprisoned.

The secrecy of grand jury proceedings is an important part of the criminal justice system. It helps to protect the rights of the accused and to ensure that only those cases with sufficient evidence go to trial.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about grand juries:

Question 1: What is a grand jury?
Answer 1: A grand jury is a group of citizens who are called upon by a court to determine if there is enough evidence to prosecute someone for a crime.

Question 2: How are grand jurors selected?
Answer 2: Grand jurors are selected randomly from voter registration lists.

Question 3: What happens during a grand jury proceeding?
Answer 3: During a grand jury proceeding, the prosecutor presents evidence and testimony to the grand jury. The grand jury then deliberates and votes on whether to issue an indictment.

Question 4: Are grand jury proceedings secret?
Answer 4: Yes, grand jury proceedings are secret. This means that the public is not allowed to attend grand jury hearings and that the evidence and testimony presented to the grand jury is not made public.

Question 5: What are the consequences of violating grand jury secrecy?
Answer 5: Violating grand jury secrecy is a crime. Anyone who violates grand jury secrecy could be fined or imprisoned.

Question 6: What is the role of the grand jury in the criminal justice system?
Answer 6: The grand jury's role is to determine if there is enough evidence to support an indictment. If the grand jury believes that there is enough evidence, they will issue an indictment. If the grand jury does not believe that there is enough evidence, they will issue a "no bill." This means that the charges against the suspect are dropped.

Question 7: How long do grand jurors serve?
Answer 7: Grand jurors serve for a fixed term, which varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some states, grand jurors serve for one year, while in others they serve for two or three years.

Closing Paragraph for FAQ: Grand juries play an important role in the criminal justice system by ensuring that only those cases with sufficient evidence go to trial. They also help to protect the rights of the accused by ensuring that they are not subjected to a trial without probable cause.

Tips

Here are a few tips for understanding grand juries:

Tip 1: Grand juries are not trials.
Grand juries do not determine guilt or innocence. Their only job is to decide if there is enough evidence to move forward with a case.

Tip 2: Grand jury proceedings are secret.
This is to protect the privacy of the witnesses and to prevent the release of information that could jeopardize the case.

Tip 3: Grand jurors are ordinary citizens.
They are not judges or lawyers. They are simply people who have been selected to serve on a grand jury.

Tip 4: Grand juries play an important role in the criminal justice system.
They help to ensure that only those cases with sufficient evidence go to trial. They also help to protect the rights of the accused by ensuring that they are not subjected to a trial without probable cause.

Closing Paragraph for Tips: Grand juries are an important part of the criminal justice system. By understanding how grand juries work, you can better understand the role they play in ensuring that justice is served.

Conclusion

Grand juries are made up of ordinary citizens who are selected randomly from voter registration lists. They serve for a fixed term and their proceedings are secret. This helps to ensure that grand juries are impartial and that the rights of the accused are protected.

If a grand jury believes that there is enough evidence to support an indictment, they will issue an indictment. This means that the suspect will be charged with a crime and will go to trial.

Grand juries are an important part of the criminal justice system. They help to ensure that justice is served by ensuring that only those cases with sufficient evidence go to trial and that the rights of the accused are protected.

Closing Message: Grand juries are a key part of the criminal justice system. They play an important role in ensuring that justice is served and that the rights of the accused are protected.