Keywords
grand juries, police, use of force, criminal law
Document Type
Article
Abstract
In recent years, considerable national attention has been focused upon cases in which police officers used deadly force that resulted in the death of private citizens. The officers often contended that the use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances. Prosecutors then presented these cases to grand juries to determine whether criminal prosecutions were warranted. Some prosecutors have elected to provide full grand jury reviews that include the presentation of exculpatory evidence or at least evidence favorable to the police. Although prosecutors have no constitutional obligation to provide such reviews, those who elect to provide full grand jury reviews to police potentially open the door to the imposition of legal and ethical obligations to provide such reviews to private citizens who have used deadly force that resulted in the death of another person and who, like the police officers, contend that the use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.21428/b6e95092.903fecba
Recommended Citation
Conti, Joseph P.
(2017)
"Grand Juries and Cases of Police Use of Deadly Force: Are Prosecutors Opening a Closed Door?,"
Journal of Criminal Justice and Law: Vol. 1:
Iss.
2, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21428/b6e95092.903fecba
Available at:
https://research.library.kutztown.edu/jcjl/vol1/iss2/3