What is the difference between a "jury" and a "grand jury"?

Question

I have been accused of a felony I did not commit. The police came to my office and informed me of a warrant for my arrest. I was never informed of the court hearing, however this is a case that was opened the first time FOUR years ago, the second time THREE yars ago, and the third time last June. the police ended up not taking me to jail (in spite of the warrant) after they heard the details. However, they did inform me that the warrant is a "Grand Jury" warrant and although I have had the warrant quashed the case is still pending and I don't understand the difference (again) between a regular jury and a grand jury. I have been informed my case is sealed and therefor they are not revealing what supposed evidence they have. How can the be? Please help. I'm a bit concerned about this.

Answer 1

A regular jury is selected and empaneled to hear just one case.
A grand jury is empaneled for one year and they hear evidence on several cases. Once they hear the evidence, they decide whether or not the case should proceed as a criminal trial. If they reach that decision, they hand down an indictment. Usually that decision is based on what the DA tells them. They may also call witnesses, but the defendant is usually not allowed to testify at a grand jury hearing.
Since you were accused but never brought to trial before, it is likely that the DA has new evidence and is bringing it before the grand jury in attempt to obtain an indictment and bring you to trial.
This would be a good time to retain an attorney, as the attorney will request the new evidence in the discovery phase of your trial.

Answer 2

A grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to justify a full trial. The defense has the right to present a case, but is not required to do so. If the grand jury returns an indictment, a separate trial jury is selected. This is the stage most people are familiar with. In the actual trial, you and/or your attorney will have access to ALL the evidence. It is possible, but unlikely, that the trial will be closed to the public. Grand juries are always closed to the public.

Answer 3

There is a big difference between a "grand jury" and a "jury."

A "grand jury" is a body of 16-23 citizens who listen to evidence of criminal allegations, which is presented by the prosecutors, and determine whether there is probable cause to believe an individual committed an offense. Basically these group of individuals decide whether there is enough PC to indict the person or not. Grand juries typically deal with felony cases (rarely do they sit for misdemeanor cases).

A "jury" is the group of people who have been chosen to sit and hear the evidence in a case and render their verdict after hearing both sides present their case.

So the "grand jury" decides whether the case goes forward and if it does, it goes to trial where a jury sits to hear it (that is, assuming it's not a bench trial as opposed to a jury trial).

Answer 4

A grand jury indicts. They hear evidence only from the prosecutor and decide if there is enough evidence to charge you with a crime.

A jury hears both sides at a trial and decides if you are guilty.

Once your indicted you have a consitutional right to an attorney. I suggest you exercise that right instead of using Y/A

Answer 5

A jury is the group chosen to judge a specific case.
A Grand Jury is a group chosen to evaluate whether there is enough evidence to take cases to trial.
(They decide whether a case should be prosecuted.
Their deliberations are 'sealed`, meaning you are not told what the evidence they heard is, though if the case is prosecuted your lawyer must be informed of it.)
Sorry, but you probably need a lawyer to untangle this.

Answer 6

A grand jury hears evidence and votes on whether suspects should be indicted. After someone is indicted and it goes to trial, a jury hears trial evidence and determines guilt or innocence. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Grand Jury decides if the case should procede to trial. Jury decides guilty/not guilty.

Answer 8

Yeah, you're right 'grand' is masculine and 'grande' is feminine, as in le grand homme, or la grande fille. In the case of grand-mere, grand is part of the noun, not an adjective, which is why it stays as it is, and does not add an 'e'. That's it to the best of my knowledge anyway EDIT - Sorry we just did it today in French, its just an exception to the rule, like in general it would add an 'e' but grand-mere is an exception to the rule