Greenville Statewide Grand Jury Matters Attorneys

In South Carolina, the grand jury has the jurisdiction to both investigate and indict criminal actions, and its reach is broad. The grand jury is the principal body that determines whether an individual who is charged with a serious crime will be tried, and as such, it plays an important role in criminal cases. If you or someone you care about is facing a criminal charge in South Carolina, you need an experienced Greenville, South Carolina, criminal defense attorney in your corner.

The Grand Jury in South Carolina

The grand jury in South Carolina consists of 18 jurors who are selected in the same process that other jurors are selected in and who are selected from the county they serve. The grand jury selection process usually occurs at the beginning of each year, and the grand jury serves for a year, but 6 of the 18 jurors are chosen as holdover or carryover jurors and serve into the next year. This helps to ensure that each new grand jury includes some experienced jurors, and the holdover jurors serve a total term of two years. At least 12 members of the grand jury must participate and vote for the grand jury to act.

The Grand Jury’s Important Role

In South Carolina, an individual can’t be prosecuted for a crime that reaches certain minimum sentencing requirements unless the grand jury determines that bringing an accusation and having a trial is justified – based on the evidence presented to them.

When the grand jury comes back with a true bill, it means that it’s determined the case at hand should be tried. To do so, at least 12 members of the grand jury must agree that there is probable cause to indict, and the involved process is two-pronged, including:

• That a crime was committed
• That the defendant more likely than not committed the crime in question

If the grand jury no bills the case, it means there wasn’t adequate probable cause to proceed. The only other option is electing to take no action, which means the grand jury needs more information before they can proceed. Cases that are heard at the magistrate and municipal level don’t need the grand jury’s involvement.

The State Grand Jury vs. The County Grand Jury

The state grand jury has statewide jurisdiction in South Carolina, and it hears cases that address charges like the following:

• Criminal gang activity
• Multi-county narcotics conspiracies
• Crimes involving public corruption
• Securities fraud
• Election fraud
• Human trafficking
• Money laundering
• Computer crimes

A county grand jury, on the other hand, is limited to hearing the more serious crimes that are charged in the county in which they sit.

Discuss Your Case with a Greenville Criminal Defense Attorney Today

The seasoned criminal defense attorneys at Ryan Beasley Law in Greenville, South Carolina, dedicate their impressive practice, which spans more than two decades, to fiercely advocating for the rights of clients like you – in focused pursuit of optimal outcomes. Learn more by contacting us online or calling 864-679-7777 today.