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

Grand juries and petit juries serve two different functions in the criminal justice system of Indiana. Both are composed of citizens who are selected to serve their community. A grand jury is composed of seven to twelve individuals and is always presided over by a judge. Their purpose is to determine whether or not to issue an indictment against someone that the prosecutor has charged with a crime. This jury is asked to consider evidence that the prosecutor believes is sufficient to charge someone with a crime and decide if an indictment should be issued. The grand jury does not decide guilt or innocence, just whether or not the person should be brought to trial. On the other hand, a petit jury is composed of six to twelve individuals. This jury is responsible for determining guilt or innocence in a criminal trial. The jury will consider testimony from witnesses and evidence presented by the prosecution and defense to make their decision. The petit jury hears the presentation of the evidence from both sides and then decides if the defendant is guilty or not guilty. This jury is the final decision maker in criminal trials and will also decide if the defendant should receive a punishment or not. In conclusion, grand juries and petit juries serve two different purposes in the criminal justice system of Indiana. Grand juries decide whether or not to issue an indictment and petit juries decide guilt or innocence. Both types of juries are composed of citizens who are selected to serve their community.

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

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