Which body is responsible for determining probable cause to charge a crime, typically consisting of citizens and not a judge?

• A. Arraignment
• B. Booking
• C. Grand jury
• D. Plea bargaining

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is who decides if there is probable cause to charge someone with a crime, and that is the grand jury. A grand jury is a group of citizens, not a judge, that meets in secret to review evidence presented by the prosecutor. If they find probable cause that a crime was committed and the person accused may have done it, they issue an indictment, which formally charges the person. This is distinct from judges, who handle arraignments and rulings, and from the other processes listed.

Arraignment is the court appearance where the charges are formally read and the defendant enters a plea. Booking is the administrative processing after arrest. Plea bargaining is the negotiation to plead guilty to lesser charges or a lighter sentence, not about determining whether there’s probable cause to charge.