Perhaps you have heard rumors that you may be the target of a grand jury investigation. How do you find out whether the rumor is true, and if it is, what should you do? Most people associate federal law enforcement with grand juries, but only two states (Connecticut and Pennsylvania) and Washington, D.C., do not utilize state grand juries. State grand juries are typically reserved for serious criminal cases involving violent crimes, organized crimes, drug offenses, and public corruption.
A state grand jury usually hears evidence and then determines if criminal charges should be filed and whether a person should be indicted for a criminal offense. The grand jury is comprised of those from the community. While grand juries can have up to 23 members, in Illinois, they consist of 16 members. At least 12 members must be present before the grand jury can hear evidence. Grand jury investigations are typically considered “secret” proceedings, but in smaller cities, residents are more likely to be aware that a grand jury has been convened, and even the reason for the grand jury.