What happens after all the evidence has been presented?

The grand jury votes and, with the agreement of at least twelve grand jurors, may choose from several possible outcomes:

  • Issue an indictment for any crime that it believes the evidence justifies
  • Direct the prosecutor to file lesser charges in a local criminal court
  • Direct the prosecutor to transfer a young person’s case to the Family Court
  • Dismiss all or any of the charges submitted to it
  • In certain cases, issue a report concerning alleged misconduct in public office or, in limited situations, findings and recommendations for legislative, executive, or administrative action

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.”)