Grand Juries to Resume in New York City State Courts
Information for New York State Jurors
Most Cases in New York City Skip Preliminary Hearing
In most criminal cases in New York City, the preliminary hearing is skipped and the prosecutor takes the case straight to a grand jury. This is in contrast to many other states, where a preliminary hearing is held before a judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial.
The grand jury is a panel of 23 citizens who are sworn to secrecy. They hear evidence from the prosecutor and decide whether there is enough evidence to indict the defendant. If the grand jury votes to indict, the defendant is charged with a crime and the case proceeds to trial.
Grand juries are an important part of the criminal justice system. They help to ensure that only those who are likely to be convicted are charged with crimes. For more information about jury service in New York State, please visit the website of the New York State Unified Court System.
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