Grand Jury
A grand jury is a group of citizens convened to review evidence presented by a prosecutor in serious criminal cases. Their main role is to determine whether there's enough evidence to formally charge someone with a crime, known as "indicting" that person. Unlike a trial jury, a grand jury does not decide guilt or innocence; it simply assesses if there’s probable cause to proceed with criminal charges. Grand jury proceedings are usually secret, and they play a vital role in the legal system by helping prevent unfounded accusations from leading to trials.
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A grand jury is a group of citizens convened to review evidence and determine whether there is enough basis to charge someone with a crime. Unlike a trial jury that decides guilt or innocence, a grand jury's role is to assess whether probable cause exists for criminal charges. They listen to evidence presented by prosecutors, and if they find sufficient grounds, they issue an indictment. Grand jury proceedings are typically confidential, and their goal is to ensure that serious charges are only brought forward when warranted, thus protecting individuals from unfounded accusations.