Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbie
Why the heck don't they release the information such as evidence, testimony, etc. to the public AFTER the Grand Jury has made their determination?
Number one...it SHOULD be public. We the people pay for it. It's ostensibly being done in the name of "the people".
So why then are "the people" being told we can't see it?
And number two...sure does seem like it would stop a lot of the reasons for all the violence that comes after these kinds of controversial decisions (that is unless it turns out that the Grand Jury really IS tilted)
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The biggest reason is confidentiality of witnesses that sometimes only tell the truth if they know there will be no retaliation, the below explains it pretty well.
"The U.S. Supreme Court in 1979 identified several reasons for maintaining such secrecy. First, without the assurance of confidentiality, many prospective witnesses would hesitate to come forward willingly, knowing that the people against whom they testify would find out about it; second, those who did come forward would be less likely to testify “fully and frankly” because they would be vulnerable to retribution and inducements; third, people about to be indicted might flee, or try to influence individual grand jurors to vote against indictment; and finally, it protects those who are accused, but not indicted, from public scorn."
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