What is the role of the grand jury in criminal cases?

In Washington, the role of the grand jury in criminal cases is to determine whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. Grand juries typically consist of 16 to 23 people from the local community, who are called to serve for a period of several months. It is the job of the grand jury to listen to evidence presented by prosecutors, such as testimony from police officers and reports from expert witnesses. The grand jury will then decide whether or not there is enough evidence to indict, or charge someone with a crime. In Washington, charges can only be brought against someone if the grand jury finds that there is probable cause that the accused committed a crime. This means that the grand jury must find that there is sufficient evidence that it is more likely than not that a crime was committed by the accused. This standard is lower than the one used in a criminal trial, where the jury must find the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The grand jury process is important because it helps ensure that the accused will not be wrongly charged with a crime. By listening to the evidence presented by prosecutors, the grand jury can make sure that the charge is appropriate, and that the accused does not suffer from any unjust prosecution.

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What is the role of the grand jury in criminal cases?

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