Jury Types: Grand vs. Trial
Grand Jury vs. Trial Jury
In the American legal system, there are two main types of juries: grand juries and trial juries. Grand juries are tasked with determining whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, while trial juries decide whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty of a crime. Both types of juries play an important role in the criminal justice system, but they have different functions and procedures.
Grand Jury
A grand jury is composed of 12 to 23 citizens who are selected at random. They are charged with investigating criminal conduct and determining whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. If the grand jury finds that there is probable cause, it will issue an indictment, which is a formal accusation that charges the defendant with a crime. Grand juries are private, meaning that the proceedings are not open to the public. This allows the grand jury to conduct its investigation without interference from outside sources.
Trial Jury
A trial jury is composed of 6 to 12 citizens who are selected at random. They are charged with deciding whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the crime charged in the indictment. Trial juries are open to the public, and the proceedings are conducted in a courtroom. The jury hears evidence from both the prosecution and the defense, and then deliberates to reach a verdict.
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