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

A grand jury and a petit jury are two different types of criminal juries in Minnesota. They both have a similar role in the criminal justice system, which is to review evidence and ultimately decide whether or not to charge a person with a crime. However, there are some key differences between the two. A grand jury is made up of a larger group of people (usually around 12-23 individuals) who review evidence in a case. This type of jury is used to decide whether or not to press criminal charges against a defendant. Grand juries typically hear cases presented by a prosecutor, and the standard of proof is typically higher than that of a petit jury. In contrast, a petit jury is more commonly known as a trial jury and is made up of smaller group of people (usually around 6-12 individuals). This type of jury hears evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense. Its task is to decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the crime with which they are charged. This jury makes its decision using a lower standard of proof than a grand jury. Overall, grand juries are used to decide whether or not someone should be charged with a crime, while petit juries decide whether or not someone is guilty of a crime. Both juries require a fair and impartial examination of the evidence. Therefore, the decisions made by grand and petit juries can have a tremendous impact on a person’s life.

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

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