What is the difference between a grand jury and a petit jury?

A grand jury and a petit jury are both types of juries found in California criminal proceedings, but they serve different purposes. A grand jury is a panel of citizens that determines if there is enough evidence, or probable cause, to charge a person with a crime. When citizens are asked to serve on a grand jury they must listen to testimony from prosecution witnesses or review evidence like documents or videos. The grand jury must agree unanimously that a person should be charged in order to make an indictment. Conversely, a petit jury is a panel of citizens that listens to all the evidence presented during a trial and is responsible for deciding the verdict. In other words, if a case is indicted by a grand jury, it will go to a petit jury and the petit jury will decide if the person is guilty or not guilty of the crimes. The primary difference between a grand jury and a petit jury is the purpose of their service. A grand jury must determine if the evidence supports a charge and will decide if the case will proceed to a petit jury trial, while a petit jury listens to the evidence presented at the trial and ultimately decides the verdict.

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What is the difference between a grand jury and a petit jury?

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