Grand Jury Indictment: A Step Closer to Criminal Charges

What is a Grand Jury?

A grand jury is a legal body composed of citizens who are tasked with determining whether there is sufficient evidence to indict an individual with criminal charges.

The Indictment Process

If the grand jury finds probable cause, it will issue an indictment, which is a formal accusation of a felony offense. The indictment process involves the following steps:

1. The prosecutor presents evidence to the grand jury.
2. The grand jury weighs the evidence and determines if it is enough to support the charges.
3. If the grand jury votes to indict, it issues an indictment, which is then filed with the court.
4. The individual named in the indictment is arrested and brought to court for an arraignment, where they are informed of the charges against them and enter a plea.

The Role of Grand Juries

Grand juries play a crucial role in the criminal justice system by:

• Protecting citizens from being wrongfully accused or prosecuted.
• Ensuring that only credible evidence is presented against the accused.
• Maintaining the integrity of the legal process.