NCJ Number
47124
Date Published
1975
Length
39 pages
Annotation
BOOKS, LAW REVIEW ARTICLES, AND OTHER MATERIALS PERTAINING TO THE GRAND JURY ARE CITED IN A BIBLIOGRAPHY, WHICH IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY AND STATUS OF THE GRAND JURY.
Abstract
THE OVERVIEW TRACES THE GRAND JURY CONCEPT FROM ITS ORIGINS IN ENGLAND THROUGH THE ONGOING DEBATE OVER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSTITUTION. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS OF THE GRAND JURY ARE SAID TO BE ITS DEMOCRATIC CONTROL AND ITS LOCAL CHARACTER; I.E., THE PLACING OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE HANDS OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. OPPONENTS OF THE GRAND JURY, CLAIMING THAT THE INSTITUTION NO LONGER OPERATES AS IT WAS INTENDED TO AND THAT IT HAS BECOME A RUBBER STAMP OF THE PROSECUTOR, CALL FOR A ONE-MAN SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE JUDGE PERFORMS THE FUNCTIONS OF THE GRAND JURY. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 400 CITATIONS, DATING FROM THE 1930'S THROUGH THE MID-1970'S.