Grand jury is a group of citizens who decide whether there is sufficient evidence of a crime to try a person in court. Most grand juries have from 16 to 23 members, a majority of whom must agree on a decision.
In many states of the United States, there are two types of grand juries, charging and investigatory. Both meet in secret. Charging grand juries hear evidence presented by a prosecutor against a person suspected of a crime. The grand jury then decides if sufficient evidence exists to issue a formal charge, called an indictment, against the person. Investigatory grand juries examine (1) suspected dishonesty by public officials and (2) possible crime, especially organized crime. Many investigatory grand juries work with special prosecutors, who are appointed specifically for the investigation. Investigatory grand juries also issue indictments if they discover evidence of crime. In certain other states and in the federal court system, a single jury may function as both a charging and an investigatory grand jury.
The grand jury system is opposed by many people. Some claim it is too slow and costs taxpayers too much money. Some also charge that grand juries too often follow the prosecutor’s wishes without considering the evidence. Supporters of the system believe it protects people from unjustified prosecution.
