Criminal Indictment Procedure & Grand Jury Stage Tracker

Evidentiary Standard of Proof Spectrum

Active Stage Standard: Probable Cause (~40-50% certainty)

1. Reasonable Suspicion

2. Probable Cause (Indictment)

3. Preponderance (Civil >50%)

4. Clear & Convincing (~75%)

5. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Conviction)

Low Inception: Terry v. Ohio stop standard ▲ Indictment / True Bill Threshold (Grand Jury) ★ Criminal Jury Trial Conviction Standard

Constitutional Criminal Procedure Pipeline

Select any procedural milestone to inspect statutory duties, rights, and secrecy rules

Case Scenarios:

Stage 03 of 08

True Bill vs. No Bill Vote

Grand Jury Vote

The Grand Jury deliberates in total secrecy without the prosecutor or judge present. If the required threshold of grand jurors (e.g., at least 12 out of 16-23 federal grand jurors) finds probable cause to believe the accused committed the statutory offenses, the foreperson endorses the charging document as a "True Bill" (Indictment). If not, a "No Bill" is returned and charges are dismissed.