What is the role of the grand jury in criminal cases?
In California, a grand jury is a group of citizens from the community that are chosen to investigate criminal activity. This group of citizens has the power to decide if there is enough evidence for a criminal case to move forward. The grand jury is a part of the preliminary proceedings in criminal cases. This means the grand jury serves as the first step to determine if a crime actually occurred and if it warrants further investigation. The role of the grand jury is to listen to evidence and decide whether the evidence is sufficient enough to charge the defendant with a crime. During the grand jury proceedings, witnesses may be called to testify against the defendant. The defendant himself is usually not present during the grand jury proceedings. Instead, the defendant is represented by a lawyer. This lawyer can speak on behalf of the defendant and advise the grand jury on whether or not the defendant should be charged. The grand jury’s decision is determined by majority vote. If the majority of the grand jury believes the defendant should be charged with a crime, then the prosecutor will file a criminal complaint against the defendant. If the grand jury finds the evidence insufficient to charge the defendant, then the case cannot proceed and the defendant cannot be charged with a crime. Overall, the role of the grand jury in criminal cases is to decide if there is enough evidence to take the case to court. The grand jury’s decision is vital because it sets the stage for the criminal proceedings to begin.
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