A group of people, usually 23, whose function is to determine if probable cause exists to believe that a crime has been committed and that the defendant committed it is known as what?

A group of people, usually 23, whose function is to determine if probable cause exists to believe that a crime has been committed and that the defendant committed it is known as what?

• A. Arraignment
• B. Grand jury
• C. Booking
• D. Information

Answer: (B)

A grand jury is a group of people, usually 23, who determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has occurred and that the defendant committed it. They hear evidence presented by the prosecutor and decide whether to issue an indictment, which formally charges the accused and moves the case toward trial. This differs from an arraignment, the defendant’s initial court appearance to enter a plea after charges are filed; booking, the police processing of arrest details; and information, a formal charging document prosecutors file in jurisdictions that don’t use a grand jury.

A grand jury is a group of people, usually 23, who determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has occurred and that the defendant committed it. They hear evidence presented by the prosecutor and decide whether to issue an indictment, which formally charges the accused and moves the case toward trial. This differs from an arraignment, the defendant’s initial court appearance to enter a plea after charges are filed; booking, the police processing of arrest details; and information, a formal charging document prosecutors file in jurisdictions that don’t use a grand jury.