
Here is an interesting article from an Ohio newspaper that describes the local grand jury process in Summit County. What I find so interesting about the article is the involvement of the prosecutor's office. Like many jurisdictions, the Summit County prosecutor attempts to indoctrinate grand jurors before they even hear the evidence. Here is a brief excerpt of the article describing the prosecutor's role in the grand jury process.
Each juror received a packet that included information on the grand jury process, victim services, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, definitions of legal terms, a list of commonly used acronyms (BAC, DV, OVI), an explanation of felony domestic violence cases, and a flow chart of Ohio’s judicial system. The chart shows the grand jury as the No. 6 step, with its function being to review felony charges to see if they should go to trial.
Juror No. 12 developed an information sheet that she distributed to her fellow jurors that explains the most commonly used drugs, both legal and illegal, what they are used for and what affect they have. (Her list has been added to the grand juror packets.)
The jurors learned they would report for jury duty at 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday for two months, with the length of time each day depending on the number of cases. They would be paid $20 a day and would have free parking.
Jennifer Cline, the grand jury coordinator, made a solemn promise to the jurors to “keep them stocked with coffee.” This was welcome news to Juror No. 12, a big coffee fan.
The jurors heard from an Akron narcotics officer who gave them a crash course on drugs and weapons, a victim advocate, and Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Greg Peacock, who presides over the felony domestic violence court.
To read the article in full go here.