What is the purpose of a criminal grand jury?

A criminal grand jury is a jury of citizens who work together to review criminal evidence and decide whether there is enough to bring criminal charges against a particular person or persons. The purpose of a criminal grand jury is to help protect citizens from wrongful prosecution and to ensure that the accused has access to a fair trial. In North Carolina, a criminal grand jury hears evidence presented by the prosecutor and determines if enough substantial evidence exists to charge a person with a crime or proceed with criminal proceedings. The jury then either issues a “true bill” of indictment or a “no bill”. A “true bill” means that there is enough evidence to move forward with a prosecution, while a “no bill” means that there is insufficient evidence to bring charges against the accused. The criminal grand jury is a crucial component of the criminal justice system in North Carolina. As a safeguard against false accusation or wrongful prosecution, the criminal grand jury ensures that only those accused with substantial evidence are brought to trial. The criminal grand jury also provides the accused with time to prepare a defense and to know the evidence against them so they have a fair trial.

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What is the purpose of a criminal grand jury?

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