What is a federal grand jury?

A federal grand jury is a group of individuals appointed by a United States district court. The grand jury’s purpose is to decide whether there is enough evidence from a prosecution’s investigation to issue an indictment against a person suspected of a federal crime within the State of Utah. The grand jury generally consists of 16-23 people who serve for an indefinite length of time ranging from a few months to several years. During each grand jury session, witnesses are called forth to present evidence against the accused. These witnesses are typically law enforcement personnel, prosecution representatives, and victims, among others. The grand jurors will use this evidence to decide whether there is enough to formally accuse the suspect of the crime. This accusation is known as an indictment. The United States District Court for the District of Utah has jurisdiction over all federal crimes that occur in the state. Grand juries may be convened for any federal crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison. If the grand jury finds enough evidence exists to issue an indictment, the suspect may then be prosecuted for the crime in a court of law.

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What is a federal grand jury?

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