Grand Juries: An Overview
What is a Grand Jury?
A grand jury is a group of 16 to 23 citizens who are selected to determine whether there is enough evidence to charge a suspect with a crime.
In New York City, most cases skip the preliminary hearing and go straight to a grand jury.
The grand jury hears evidence from the prosecutor and witnesses, but does not hear from the defense. The jury then votes on whether to indict the suspect. If the grand jury votes to indict, the suspect will be charged with a crime.
Grand juries are important because they help to ensure that people are not charged with crimes without sufficient evidence. They also help to protect the rights of the accused by ensuring that they are not subjected to a trial unless there is a strong case against them.
The Grand Jury Process
The grand jury process begins when the prosecutor presents evidence to the grand jury. The evidence can include witness testimony, physical evidence, and documents.
The grand jury then votes on whether to indict the suspect. If the grand jury votes to indict, the suspect will be charged with a crime.
The grand jury process is secret. This means that the public does not know what evidence was presented to the grand jury or how the grand jury voted.
1
1
Comments