What is the purpose of a criminal grand jury?
A criminal grand jury is an investigative body in the state of New York that is responsible for determining whether or not an individual should be indicted, or formally charged, with a crime. The purpose of a criminal grand jury is to protect citizens of the state from unjust prosecution while also preserving the rights of the accused. The criminal grand jury is made up of at least 23 citizens chosen at random from district voter registrations and is comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds. The prosecuting attorney, usually a district attorney, is responsible for presenting the matter to the body, and is then responsible for gathering evidence and making a case for the indictment of the accused party. The citizens of the criminal grand jury are responsible for hearing the evidence presented by the prosecuting attorney and determining if there is sufficient evidence to support an indictment. To do so, they can use subpoenas to investigate the case and compel witnesses to testify. They can also seek additional evidence that the prosecuting attorney has yet to uncover. Ultimately, the purpose of the criminal grand jury is to protect the accused’s rights and ensure the state of New York is pursuing legal avenues to hold the individual accountable. If the grand jury decides that there is sufficient evidence, they will indict the accused and the case will move forward to the trial phase. If the grand jury decides there is not enough evidence, the accused will be released.
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