what does a grand jury do?
552475
The constitution requires that federal prosecutions for "capital or infamous crimes" be indicted upon the recommendation of a grand jury. The grand jury hears evidence and determines whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. Grand jury indictments have a lower burden of proof than the actual trial, and a grand jury rarely fails to indict as a prosecutor wishes. Many states also have grand juries, but they are not required. The idea behind them is that serious crimes are too important to let prosecutors commence at will.
34034
The Grand Jury, like any other jury is formed of citizens of the county where the court is located, usually gathered from voting registrations.
549481
It means one person doesn't decide your fate.  You get a jury of people who represent a cross-section of society, and after hearing evidence from both sides, they jury decides if the person on trial is guilty or not.
329846
First, it is important to note that not all prosecutors are elected.  In New Jersey, for example, the Prosecutor for each county is appointed by the governor.  And in the federal system, United States Attorneys are appointed by the President.  \n\nSecond, there are always checks on prosecutorial discretion.  This is the main purpose of the grand jury, which can decide not to hand up an indictment even after the prosecutor presents evidence.  \n\nFinally, if the public believes that a prosecutor is not faithfully executing his or her duties they can decide not to re-elect him or her.
307252
In countries where jury trials are common, juries are often seen as an important check against state power. Many also believe that a jury is likely to provide a more sympathetic hearing, or a fairer one, to a party who is not part of the government, or other establishment interest than would representatives of the state.\n\nIn the United States, because jury trials tend to be high profile, the general public tends to overestimate the frequency of jury trials; the vast majority of cases are in fact settled by plea bargain which removes the need for a jury trial.
462135
Scientists in labs test blood samples (with chemistry) and other specimen from the crime scene to help find suspects. For example, they might test a paint chip from the crime scene with chemicals to see if it reacts, then test a car with what looks like matching paint to see if the two samples of paint match, therefore finding a huge lead!\n\nAnd testing DNA, of course.
543956
Indictment is a preliminary stage of a formal charge that would follow only if the grand jury (those who get to decide whether the person is likely to have committed a crime) determined the person might have committed a crime.  So being indicted does not mean you are guilty as charge but an important stage for the ensuing formal charge, which, if tried, determines whether the person is guilty of the crime in trial.
933903
It can make a big difference how and when a jury hears something.
853951
Well, rogue jurors in the sense that they vote according to their beliefs?  There's not much the legal system can do.\n\nThe primary reason for having a jury of your peers, instead of some professional jurist, is that a jury can go beyond their instructions, although they are never told this.  A jury decides the verdict to make sure "justice" is served, not necessarily that the law was followed.  A jury can acquit because they believe the law is being unfairly applied, disagree with the law, or the defendent is being persecuted unfairly.  They can acquit if they believe defense evidence has been unfairly witheld from them.\n\nThe Libertarians have been pushing for the Fully Informed Jury Act for decades to make sure jurists are informed of these facts, but with little success.\n\nThis is also a good way to get out of a trial.  If you are being queried as to whether you will follow court instructions, you can say that you might not because of the reasons above.  You'll be excused no problem.\n\nIt's also called Jury Nullification.\n\nIn case you can't tell, I'm a big believer in Jury Nullification.  Oh if I were ever called to serve on a jury, odds are I'd follow the instructions, but I'd always keep those 3 questions in my mind.  Is the law being applied fairly?  Is the law fair?  Is justice being served?
523465
The attorney presents evidence based on whatever they're arguing. It could be someone's testimony, but it could be other types of evidence. This is presented to the "trier of fact" in the case, which is going to be either the jury or the judge, who determines the truthfulness of each side's allegations based the testimony and also on the jury instructions.
1099810
The laws define all elements of a crime, whether it be rape, murder or theft. The laws also define the defenses to each crime. The investigation focuses on collecting enough evidence to prove each element of the crime, beyond a reasonable doubt, or determining if a defense exists and can be proven.
664886
There is a group called the Parish Police Jury that are his/her immediate authority.  In addition to that, the would listen to the State Attorney General.  \n\nThe Police Jury are similar to a County Board of Commissioners in another State.
18103
Depends on which protection you mean.  Many of the protections are specific to criminal trials (Grand Jury requirement, double jeopardy), but the protection against being deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law applies in all cases.
1075785
It means there was not any reason for whatever he ruled against, probably a search or a traffic stop. Police officers have to have "probable cause" to stop someone, arrest them, search their car or other items, etc. Also, grand juries, which indict people for felonies, must decide whether or not there is "probable cause" for a trial.
508377
Grand jury is a big task, therefore work hard and read the following carefully:\n\nA jury is a sworn body of persons convened to render a rational, impartial verdict and a finding of fact on a legal question officially submitted to them, or to set a penalty or judgment in a jury trial of a court of law.\n\nIn most criminal justice systems which require a jury, panels are initially selected at random from the adult population of the district served by the court concerned. A person who is serving on (is a member of) a jury is known as a juror.\n\nThe requirements for a jury are fairly universal. The number of jurors must be a specified size (usually twelve or fifteen), and since there is always the possibility of jurors not completing the trial for health or other reasons, often some alternate jurors are nominated, who will also follow the trial (but do not take part in deciding the verdict), as a precaution in case a new juror is needed part way through the trial.\n\nServing on a jury is normally compulsory if a citizen is chosen (exceptions and exclusions vary between jurisdictions and are discussed below). Since a jury is intended to be an impartial panel capable of reaching a verdict, there are often procedures and requirements, for instance, fluent understanding of the language, or the ability to test jurors or otherwise exclude jurors who might be perceived as less than neutral or more partial to hear one side or the other.\n\nThe jurors hear the cases presented by both the defense and prosecution, and in some jurisdictions a summing-up from the judge. They then retire as a group to consider a verdict. The majority required for a verdict varies. In some countries their decision making process is private and may not be disclosed, in others it may be discussed but only after the trial has ended.\n\nIn common law countries such as the England and the United States, the role of the jury is the "finder of fact", while the Judge has the sole responsibility of interpreting the appropriate law and instructing the jury accordingly. Occasionally, a jury may find the defendant "not guilty" even though he violated the law if the jury thinks that the law is invalid or unjust. This is commonly referred to as jury nullification. When there is no jury ("bench trial"), the Judge makes factual rulings in addition to legal ones. In most continental European jurisdictions, the Judges have more power in a trial and the role and powers of a jury are often restricted.\n\nActual jury law and trial procedures differ between countries.\n\nThe concept of a modern jury trial stems back to Magna Carta, which gave English nobles and freemen the right to be tried by a panel of their peers, rather than by summary judgment of the king or other official who often had the utter power to impose his own arbitrary judgment. The concept can also be traced to Normandy before 1066, when a jury of nobles was established to decide land disputes. In this manner, the Duke, being the largest land owner, could not act as a judge in his own case. Many ancient cultures had similar concepts, notably ancient Judea whose panel of judges called the Sanhedrin served a similar purpose. The Athenians by 500 BCE had also invented the jury court, with votes by secret ballot. These courts were eventually granted the power to annul unconstitutional laws, thus introducing judicial review.\n\nSelection\nA common method for drafting jurors is to draw them at random from electoral rolls (known as allotment or sortition). The most common exclusions are for people whose job in some way precludes them (for instance, teachers, doctors, firefighters, people who themselves work in the criminal justice system), are caring for young children, have an interest in the case, are under the age of 18 years, or who have health problems or serious criminal records. In some jurisdictions in the United States, prior legal education or being a lawyer may also be a reason to
862388
Nope, it's just the beginning. \n\nWhat is a preliminary hearing? \n\nEvery person who is charged by warrant is entitled to a preliminary hearing. If a person remains in jail, he or she is entitled to a preliminary hearing within 10 days of arrest. If a person is released from jail on bond, he or she is entitled to a preliminary hearing within 30 days of arrest.\n\nA preliminary hearing is a test of the charge against the accused. The prosecutor must present evidence and witnesses that prove that it appears that an offense has been committed that there is probable cause to believe that the person accused committed it. The accused may cross-examine witnesses and may present evidence if he or she wishes.\n\nIf the judge makes a finding of probable cause after hearing the evidence, the charge is sent to the grand jury. If the judge does not find that it appears that an offense has been committed or that the accused is likely the person who committed an offense, the accused is discharged and the charge is dismissed. If the accused is discharged and the charge dismissed after a preliminary hearing, the prosecutor may still present evidence to the grand jury to see if they will find probable cause.
939040
a) - A Federal jury is basically the same as a Grand Jury. A grand jury is actually referred to as a Federal Grand Jury.\n\nd) Grand jury The primary function of the modern grand jury is to review the evidence presented by the prosecutor and determine whether there is probable cause to return an indictment. The original purpose of the grand jury was to act as a buffer between the king (and his prosecutors) and the citizens. Critics argue that this safeguarding role has been erased, and the grand jury simply acts as a rubber stamp for the prosecutor. Since the role of the grand jury is only to determine probable cause, there is no need for the jury to hear all the evidence, or even conflicting evidence. It is left to the good faith of the prosecutor to present conflicting evidence. In the federal system, the courts have ruled that the grand jury has extraordinary investigative powers that have been developed over the years since the 1950s. This wide, sweeping, almost unrestricted power is the cause of much of the criticism. The power is virtually in complete control of the prosecutor, and is pretty much left to his or her good faith.\n\nc) PETIT JURY - The ordinary trial jury of twelve persons whose duty it is to find facts as opposed to the grand jury whose duty it is to return an indictment. A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons. \n\nb) Box Jury seems to refer to a 12 person jury. I can find nothing specific on a box jury other than that... Sorry!