What types of evidence are received by the grand jury?

For the most part, the grand jury receives the same types of evidence in the same manner as a trial jury. The prosecutor must follow the rules of evidence and must decide the admissibility of evidence, just as a trial judge would.


Unlike the grand juries in most other jurisdictions, a New York grand jury generally cannot consider hearsay evidence. Witnesses must personally appear and give sworn testimony.

Show All Answers

1. What is a grand jury?
2. Why does New York need grand juries?
3. Who presents evidence to the grand jury?
4. Who decides what evidence to present to the grand jury?
5. What types of evidence are received by the grand jury?
6. What is grand jury witness immunity?
7. How does the grand jury know what law to apply to a case before it?
8. How can we be sure the prosecutor acts properly before the grand jury?
9. What happens after all the evidence has been presented?
10. Do the grand jurors know about all of these powers?
11. Why is the grand jury proceeding secret?
12. Is the grand jury symbolic in New York? (It’s been said that a prosecutor can “indict a ham sandwich.”)