The Grand Jury Unit investigates cases and review reports submitted by local, state, and federal law enforcement investigators alleging felony criminal activity. Cases with sufficient evidence are selected for presentation by one of four Cuyahoga County Grand Juries.

The Grand Jury is comprised of 14 people selected from the public. The foreman for each Grand Jury is appointed by a judge from the Common Pleas Court. Each grand jury serves for four months and meets twice a week.

The Grand Jury Prosecutor determines the necessary witnesses and documents to present to the Grand Jury and instructs them on issues of law, admissibility and weight of evidence and proper procedure. After the Prosecutor presents evidence, the Grand Jury evaluates the evidence to determine if there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and whether or not there is a reasonable belief as to the identity of the person who committed the crime.

• If the Grand Jury determines there is probable cause to indict on the requested charges, they will issue a “true-bill.”
  
• If the Grand Jury determines there is not probable cause or that there is not a reasonable belief as to the identity of the person who committed the crime, they will issue a “no-bill.”
  
• The cases that are true bills receive indictments prepared by the Grand Jury Prosecutor that are signed by the grand jury foreman and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, Bill Mason
  
• These indictments are filed in the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts, thus beginning a formal criminal proceeding.
  
• Grand Jury proceedings are not public. Indictments become public when they are filed in the Clerk's Office.

Arraignment

We represent the Prosecutor’s office in the arraignment room, where the defendants are informed of the charges against them and are given a bond amount. The prosecutor makes objections to bond amount recommendations when the amounts seem inappropriate for the charges listed in the indictment. The Grand Jury Prosecutor also requests no-contact orders with victims as a condition of bond when appropriate.

Police Court

We represent the Prosecutor’s Office in Cleveland Municipal Court by conducting probable cause hearings to determine if criminal cases initiated in the City of Cleveland should be sent to the grand jury.

Drug Court
We represent the Prosecutor’s Office in a cooperative program between the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County that provides education and treatment for first time, non-violent drug offenders charged with drug possession.