What is the purpose of a grand jury?
United States district courts are the trial courts for both criminal and civil federal cases. They use 2 types of juries in criminal cases. A grand jury is one, which usually includes 16 to 23 people, hears charges against a person suspected of having committed a crime. The jury places an indictment on a accused person, if they feel the person is not guilty they let them go.
A grand jury is a panel of 18 citizens, selected each year, whose duty is to determine whether enough evidence exist to believe a crime has been committed. At least 12 of the 18 jurors must agree that the arresting agency or the victim in a self-signed warrant has enough evidence for them to grant an indictment or a true bill. An indictment serves as a charging document that prosecutors must prove in General Sessions Court. In a case where the Grand Jury is not convinced a crime has been committed, a “no bill,” is returned. The case is dismissed.
