What does the grand jury do?
What does the grand jury do? A grand jury is a group of people from the community who meet and review evidence to decide whether the prosecutor has enough evidence to charge a person with a crime. A grand jury meets before charges are filed and the meeting is largely secret. The grand jury hears witness testimony and reviews some evidence, but never hears from the defense. It is entirely a one-sided presentation, and the defense does not even have the right to be present. Ultimately, the grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to charge a person with a crime. If they decide that there is enough evidence, the grand jury will file an indictment that outlines the allegations. A person charged by a grand jury is still presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The grand jury is different from the petit jury which is the group of people who serve on the jury at trial and determine whether a person is guilty or not guilty.