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

A grand jury and a petit jury are two different types of juries used in the criminal justice system in South Carolina. Both are comprised of a group of citizens who are responsible for making important decisions about cases presented to them. A grand jury is a panel of sixteen to twenty-three citizens who are chosen from the general population. They meet in secret to listen to evidence presented to them and decide whether charges should be filed against a suspect or not. A grand jury generally meets over a period of several weeks and has the power to subpoena witnesses and documents. In the majority of cases, the decision of a grand jury is binding, meaning the suspect will be charged with the crime that the grand jury believes the evidence has established. A petit jury, also known as a trial jury, is a panel of twelve citizens that are chosen from the general population and participate in a criminal trial. During a trial, the petit jury is responsible for listening to the evidence presented by both sides and decide, based on a preponderance of evidence, whether or not a suspect is guilty. This is done by a process of deliberation, where the jurors discuss the evidence and vote on the verdict. The decision of a petit jury is not binding, and could be overturned by a higher court. To sum up, a grand jury hears evidence and decides whether or not a suspect should be charged with a crime, while a petit jury hears evidence and decides whether or not a suspect is guilty.

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

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