What is the purpose of a grand jury indictment?
The purpose of a grand jury indictment in Virginia is to decide whether a person who is accused of a crime should be required to stand trial. In other words, the grand jury is responsible for deciding whether the court should issue an “indictment” against the accused. This indictment is an official document that outlines the crime the accused is accused of and serves as the basis for a formal trial. The grand jury is made up of ordinary citizens who are selected by the court. In Virginia, the grand jury consists of no less than 16 and no more than 23 individuals. This grand jury will hear evidence from the prosecutors and decide whether there is enough evidence to believe that the person accused is guilty of a crime. They need to determine whether the evidence is serious enough to pursue a trial. If the grand jury finds the evidence convincing, they will “indict” the accused, meaning that an indictment will be issued. The grand jury’s role as a check on the state’s power is important. Because an indictment can only be issued when the grand jury finds probable cause, it serves as a safeguard against a prosecutor’s power to have citizens indicted without good cause. This ensures that the accused is not unfairly targeted and that they are only charged if the grand jury determines that there is enough evidence against them.
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