What is the Difference Between Grand Jury and Petit Jury?

The main difference between a grand jury and a petit jury lies in their roles and functions within the legal system. Here are the key differences:

Grand Jury:

• Hears only criminal matters.
• Determines whether probable cause exists that a crime was committed.
• Does not determine guilt or innocence.
• If probable cause exists, the grand jury returns a written statement of the charges called an "indictment".
• Typically involves numerous cases and can last for months.
• Members have the power to consider almost any kind of evidence.

Petit Jury:

• Acts as a trial jury for both civil and criminal cases.
• Listens to evidence offered during a trial and returns a verdict.
• Determines whether there is enough evidence to convict a suspect.
• Responsible for rendering a decision on guilt (conviction) or innocence (acquittal).
• Trials typically last a few days to a few weeks.
• Members can only listen to reliable evidence presented by the prosecuting and defense attorneys.

In summary, a grand jury decides whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a criminal case, while a petit jury decides whether there is enough evidence to convict a suspect.

Comparative Table: Grand Jury vs Petit Jury

The main difference between a grand jury and a petit jury lies in their functions and the cases they handle. Here is a comparative table outlining the differences:

In summary, a grand jury focuses on preliminary criminal matters and assesses evidence presented by the government to determine if there is enough evidence to issue an indictment. On the other hand, a petit jury decides both criminal and civil cases, listening to evidence offered during a trial and returning a verdict.