Understanding the Role of Grand Juries in the Criminal Justice System
What is a Grand Jury?
In the United States, a grand jury is a legal body comprised of citizens who are selected to investigate potential criminal conduct and determine whether there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges to trial.
Composition and Selection
Grand juries typically consist of 12 to 23 laypeople who are selected from the community. They do not need to have any legal training or experience.
Role and Function
The primary role of a grand jury is to decide whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. They hear evidence from prosecutors and witnesses, and they vote on whether to indict the accused.
Grand jury proceedings are typically held in secret, and the jurors are not allowed to discuss the case with anyone outside of the courtroom.
Limitations
Grand juries do not determine guilt or innocence. Their sole purpose is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to move forward with criminal charges.
Additionally, grand jury proceedings can be time-consuming and expensive. As a result, they are not always used in all criminal cases.
Importance in the Criminal Justice System
Grand juries play an important role in the criminal justice system by providing an independent and impartial review of potential criminal conduct.
They help to ensure that only those who have committed crimes are charged and that innocent people are not wrongfully accused.
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