HB 167

Abstract

Special grand juries. Directs a circuitcourt to impanel a special grand jury when an unarmed person is killedby a law-enforcement officer or a correctional officer, as thoseterms are defined in relevant law, to investigate and report on anycondition that involves or tends to promote criminal activity andconsider bills of indictment to determine whether there is sufficientprobable cause to return each such indictment as a "true bill." Thebill requires the court to appoint a special prosecutor for suchspecial grand jury who may be present during the investigatory stageonly when his presence is requested by the special grand jury andmay interrogate witnesses provided the special grand jury requestsor consents to such interrogation. The bill states that the attorneyfor the Commonwealth shall not be present during the investigatorystage or interrogate witnesses.