What is a Grand Jury?
Definition
A grand jury is a jury that investigates potential criminal conduct and determines whether criminal charges should be brought.
It is a separate body from the courts, and its proceedings are confidential. A grand jury is typically composed of 12 to 23 people who are selected from the community.
Function
The grand jury's primary function is to determine whether there is enough evidence to indict a person for a crime.
If the grand jury believes that there is sufficient evidence, it will issue an indictment. An indictment is a formal charge that accuses a person of committing a crime. Once an indictment is issued, the person who is charged with the crime will be arraigned in court.
Procedure
Grand jury proceedings are conducted in secret.
The only people who are present are the grand jurors, the prosecutor, and the court reporter. The prosecutor presents evidence to the grand jury and calls witnesses to testify. The grand jury can also subpoena documents and other evidence.
After hearing all of the evidence, the grand jury votes on whether to issue an indictment. If a majority of the grand jurors vote to indict, an indictment will be issued.
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