Which statement best describes a grand jury's function?

• A. Inquire into law violations; Determine existence of Probable Cause
• B. Determine guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
• C. Conduct sentencing hearings
• D. Enforce traffic laws

Answer: (A)

A grand jury’s job is to determine whether there is probable cause to indict someone for a crime. They review evidence presented by the prosecutor and decide if the charges should go forward. This threshold—probable cause to believe a crime occurred and that the person committed it—is lower than proving guilt at trial, which is what a regular jury does. If probable cause exists, an indictment is issued; if not, charges may not proceed through the grand jury process.

They don’t determine guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which is decided by a petit jury during a criminal trial. They don’t conduct sentencing hearings, which happen after a conviction, and they don’t enforce traffic laws, which are functions of law enforcement and the court system.