What is the role of the grand jury?
Once you have been arrested and held in custody, if you were arrested for a felony, the next step is for you to be brought before the grand jury.
Only felony charges are brought before a grand jury. Misdemeanors and violations are officially charged during the arraignment process.
The grand jury decides whether there is sufficient evidence to indict you, the suspect, and continue the criminal proceedings against you.
The indictment is the formal process of charging you with a crime.
The grand jury reviews the evidence presented by the prosecutor and may hear testimony in deciding whether to indict someone, but its important to note that the grand jury makes no decision about guilt or innocence.
Main New York Criminal Defense FAQ page.
