If you have been charged with a crime and arrested, your case might end up going before a grand jury. When people find out that this is happening, they often think of it like a trial jury. They assume that the grand jury is going to determine if they are guilty or innocent, and that the conviction hinges on this jury’s decision.
But that is not actually how it works. A grand jury is just looking for probable cause. The jurors will examine the evidence from the case, and their job is to determine if the case should go to trial at all.
For example, a grand jury may look at the evidence and realize that there are essentially no grounds to even charge the individual. The evidence is not going to lead to a conviction, and a trial would be a waste of time and resources. They can determine that the case should not move forward.
What if they send the case to trial?
If the grand jury reviews the details and decides there is probable cause for a trial, that does not mean that you have been convicted. It does not mean you are guilty. It does not even mean that the grand jury thinks you did anything wrong.
Instead, the grand jury just believes there is sufficient evidence to let a trial jury take a look at the case. You could still be completely cleared of all charges against you in the trial, because the grand jury is not convicting you or determining your guilt.
Criminal proceedings can be complicated, and it is important to understand exactly how the process works and what legal defense options you have.