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GRAND JURY - AN INSTITUTION UNDER FIRE

NCJ Number
68914
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM DESCRIBES THE MODERN GRAND JURY, PRESENTS THE HISTORY OF GRAND JURIES IN ENGLAND AND IN THE U.S., DISCUSSES SPECIFIC GRAND JURY ABUSES, AND SUGGESTS SOME POSSIBLE REFORMS.
Abstract
THE MODERN GRAND JURY IS A BODY OF CITIZENS NUMBERING FROM 12 TO 23 WHOSE TASK IS TO DECIDE IF THE PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE IS SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT A TRIAL. AGREEMENT MUST BE UNANIMOUS. GLIMPSES OF THE GRAND JURY PROCESS ARE SHOWN USING INTERVIEWS WITH JURORS IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.H., ONE OF THE 21 STATES STILL USING THE SYSTEM. THE FILM BRIEFLY DESCRIBES THE HISTORY OF GRAND JURIES, FROM THE 16-MEMBER PANELS OF 12TH CENTURY ENGLAND TO THE PRESENT. PARTICULAR GRAND JURY ABUSES ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING PROSECUTORIAL POWERS THAT PERMIT A WIDE RANGE OF WITNESSES AND DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBPOENAED, ABUSE AND HARASSMENT OF WITNESSES, AND LACK OF CERTAIN COURTROOM PROTECTIONS SUCH AS THE PRESENCE OF A COURT REPORTER. THE USE AND ABUSE OF IMMUNITY AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOL IS ALSO DISCUSSED. THE FILM OUTLINES SOME ATTEMPTS AT REFORM BY SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS THE COALITION TO END GRAND JURY ABUSE, DISCUSSES THE PROS AND CONS OF ELIMINATING GRAND JURIES (ENGLAND ABOLISHED THE GRAND JURY IN 1948), AND SUGGESTS ADOPTING SUCH CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS AS THE RIGHT OF THE WITNESS TO COUNSEL TO PREVENT FURTHER ABUSE.

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