(in the US) A Grand Jury hears the details of the offense, and the evidence that leads the police to believe that a particular individual committed it. They then vote on whether they believe sufficient PROBABLE CAUSE exists to charge the defendant.
IN the states that still utilize them, they are used to review cases presented to them by the prosecutors offrice and determine if there is probable cause to present the case to court for trial.
Some states (California being one) also utilize civil grand juries to conduct investigations of government operations.
They hear charges against a person suspected of having committed a crime. If the grand jury believes there is sufficient evidence to bring the person to trial, they issue an indictment.
Deciding whether or not there is enough evidence to go to trial.
Decide whether the evidence is enough to go to trial
YOU (individually) don't NEED and can't request, a Grand Jury. Grand Juries are convened at the direction of the government, not at the request of the defendant. A grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to stand trial.
No. Criminal offenses only - EXCEPT - in California, state law empowers CIVIL Grand juries at the county level to look into and investigate governmental matters that are brought to their attention.
Henry II
Henry created a system for trials that had Grand Jury Trials and regular trials. Grand Jury trials decided whether or not the evidence supports the accusation enough to go to a trial. The regular trial decided if the accused was innocent or guilty. And the juries were made of common people instead of nobility.
Juries are the "Triers of Fact."
Grand juries and Petit juries are the two kinds of juries.
Grand Juries
Grand juries and Petit juries are the two kinds of juries. Grand juries review evidence of criminal action to determine if there is probable cause for bringing charges and if so, issue an indictment. Petit juries review evidence in both civil and criminal trials to determine the facts and render verdicts either for or against the parties in civil actions or guilty or not guilty in criminal actions.
Yes, it is possible.
The Grand jury is the jury that issues indictments in federal felony cases. Grand juries are only used in the United States.
Grand juries and Petit juries are the two kinds of juries. Grand juries review evidence of criminal action to determine if there is probable cause for bringing charges and if so, issue an indictment. Petit juries review evidence in both civil and criminal trials to determine the facts and render verdicts either for or against the parties in civil actions or guilty or not guilty in criminal actions.
Yes, the state of Georgia uses grand juries. However, it's optional to prosecutors.
Grand juries do not decide guilt or innocence. They determine if enough evidence exists to formally charge you with a crime. There are two types of formal charges: presentments and indictments. For all practical purposes nowadays only indictments are produced by grand juries.
ALL grand jury sessions are conducted ex parte. Legally, the potential defendant is not granted an opportunity to defend themselves and/or present their side of the case. That's what trials and petit juries (i.e.: trial juries) are for.
When referring to a particular grand jury (i.e.: The Essex County Grand Jury), yes. When simply just referring to grand juries in general no, it is not necessary.
jury pool
Grand juries are called to determine if there is enough evidence in a case to warrant a jury trial.