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ABA Family Legal Guide
Criminal Justice
The Police and Your Rights
Criminal Charges
What is the grand jury's role in charging individuals with crimes?
In about half the states, grand juries must be used to bring charges for felonies. In the other states, they may or may not be used to bring charges for felonies--prosecutors have discretion to use them or bring charges on their own.
Grand juries also have a second role in many states: investigating public corruption or undertaking such tasks as monitoring conditions in the jail.
American Bar Association Family Legal GuideCopyright © 2004 American Bar Association