The Grand Jury Process in a New Jersey Criminal Case

A grand jury answers one question: Does the state have enough evidence to charge you with an indictable crime? It does not decide guilt; it meets secretly, and you are usually absent. Our Hammonton criminal defense attorneys work with clients during the pre-indictment stage, when decisions about evidence, negotiations, and potential charges may still affect how the case proceeds.

What is a Grand Jury in New Jersey?

Twenty-three county residents sit on the panel, and the New Jersey Judiciary explains how grand juries differ from trial juries. Twelve votes return an indictment, well short of the unanimous verdict a trial jury needs, and the prosecutor presents alone with no judge overseeing deliberations. The NJ grand jury process ends in an indictment in most matters.

The Path From Hammonton Municipal Court to Mays Landing

Hammonton Municipal Court hears non-indictable matters arising in the town, including traffic violations, local ordinance violations, and petty disorderly persons offenses. In contrast, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office reviews indictable charges before sending them to the Superior Court’s Criminal Division in Mays Landing.

The Hammonton municipal judge has no authority to decide an indictable charge. Jurisdiction transfers before the first Superior Court appearance, placing the case before a countywide panel about twenty-five minutes south rather than local Township officials.

Most released defendants then wait a season or more for an Atlantic County grand jury indictment, since the county runs sessions on a set calendar. Detention changes that clock, because someone held after a detention hearing must be indicted within ninety days.

True Bill, No Bill, or Remand: What Each Result Means

In New Jersey, the difference between a true bill and a no bill determines whether your case moves forward or ends. Three results follow the vote:

• True bill: The panel finds probable cause and issues an indictment.
• No bill: The panel rejects the charges, resulting in their dismissal.
• Remand: The panel downgrades the offense and sends it back to municipal court.

A remand is the quiet win most people never hear about. Sending a matter back to Hammonton drops prison exposure without a trial.

Can Your Case End Before the Grand Jury Votes?

Yes. The period before indictment usually gives the defense meaningful bargaining power. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12, completing Pretrial Intervention can end the prosecution without a conviction.

Before the grand jury votes, our firm may pursue several options:

• Pre-indictment offers that drop a charge or a degree
• Remand requests returning the matter to the municipal court
• Packets putting favorable evidence before the prosecutor

Packets do not get read automatically. Prosecutors control what reaches the panel, so timing matters as much as content.

The Months Before Your Indictment Are the Ones That Count

Waiting for a grand jury date feels like nothing is happening. Behind the scenes, the prosecutor’s office decides what to present and what to trade away.

Louis A. Casadia screened these files as an Atlantic County prosecutor before founding LACE Law, and our attorneys reach the decision-maker while the file is open. Call (609) 225-4065 or contact us online to book a free 30-minute consultation while your case is still pre-indictment.