Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Rule 556.11 - Proceedings When Case Presented to Grand Jury(A) A grand jury has the authority to: (1) inquire into violations of criminal law through subpoenaing witnesses and documents; and(2) based upon evidence it has received, including hearsay evidence as permitted by law, or upon a presentment issued by an investigating grand jury, if the grand jury finds the evidence establishes a prima facie case that (1) an offense has been committed and (2) the defendant has committed it, indict defendant for an offense under the criminal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; or(3) based upon evidence it has received, including hearsay evidence as permitted by law, or upon a presentment issued by an investigating grand jury, if the grand jury finds the evidence establishes a prima facie case that (1) an offense has been committed and (2) the person other than the defendant in the matter originally presented to the indicting grand jury has committed it, indict the individual for an offense under the criminal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but only if the offense arises from the same criminal conduct or episode that gave rise to the original referral to the indicting grand jury; or(B) After a grand jury has considered the evidence presented, the grand jury shall vote whether to indict the defendant or the person other than the defendant who has been identified as having committed an offense as provided in paragraph (A)(3). The affirmative vote of at least 12 grand jurors is required to indict.(C) In cases in which the grand jury votes to indict, an indictment shall be prepared setting forth the offenses on which the grand jury has voted to indict. The indictment shall be signed by the grand jury foreperson, or deputy foreperson if the foreperson is unavailable, and returned to the supervising judge.(D) Upon receipt of the indictment, the supervising judge shall:(1) provide a copy of the indictment to the Commonwealth authorizing the attorney to prepare an information pursuant to Rule 560; and(2) forward the indictment to the clerk of courts.(E) If the subject of the indictment has not been arrested on the charges contained in the indictment, upon receipt of a copy of the indictment, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file a complaint with the clerk of courts of the judicial district in which the indicting grand jury sits, and shall request the supervising judge issue an arrest warrant.(1) The indictment shall be used in lieu of the affidavit of probable cause.(2) The supervising judge shall issue an arrest warrant.(F) At the request of the attorney for the Commonwealth, the supervising judge shall order the indictment to be sealed.(G) In cases in which the grand jury does not vote to indict, the foreperson promptly and in writing shall so report to the supervising judge who immediately shall dismiss the complaint and shall notify the clerk of courts of the dismissal.The provisions of this Rule 556.11 adopted June 21, 2012, effective in 180 days, 42 Pa.B. 4140; amended November 27, 2018, effective 3/1/2019, 48 Pa.B. 7626.