A grand jury is a group of 12 to 23 people called together by the state to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe a crime has occurred. Different from a petit jury, which decides the facts in a trial — in a criminal trial, the guilt or innocence of the accused — a grand jury only examines whether or not there is enough evidence for a prosecutor to bring charges post-arrest.
Originally designed to be a check on prosecutorial power, grand juries are today often used as fact finders for State and Federal prosecutors due to their immense investigative power. Ignoring a subpoena from a grand jury can carry criminal consequences, and lying to a grand jury can result in perjury charges.
Despite this, those called before grand juries do not have the same rights as those actually accused of crimes. Because the individual appearing before the grand jury has not yet been charged with a crime — but is nonetheless in substantial criminal jeopardy — it is imperative that anyone under investigation by a grand jury, or anyone who has been called to appear in front of one, secure defense representation as soon as possible.
The criminal defense attorneys at Longman Jakuback are fully committed to protecting the rights of the accused. If you are facing a grand jury investigation in Baton Rouge or anywhere in Louisiana, there is no time to wait: let us start protecting your rights and interests. Call our Baton Rouge Grand Jury Investigation Lawyer today!
For a free and confidential consultation, call us in Baton Rouge at 225-383-3644 or complete our contact form. We are a dedicated team of criminal defense lawyers fighting for the rights of the accused throughout Louisiana.