If a grand jury finds probable cause, what does it issue?

• A. Warrant
• B. Subpoena
• C. Indictment
• D. Information

Answer: (C)

When a grand jury reviews evidence, its job is to decide if there is enough probable cause to believe a crime has been committed and that the accused is responsible. If it finds that level of cause, it issues an indictment, which is the formal charging document that starts the criminal case. It is not a warrant, which is a court order for arrest or search; it is not a subpoena, which compels attendance or the production of documents; and it is not an information, which is a charging document used by a prosecutor in jurisdictions that do not use the grand jury or that proceed after a preliminary hearing. So the action taken by the grand jury upon finding probable cause is to prepare and deliver an indictment.