<P> According to the American Bar Association (ABA), the grand jury has come under increasing criticism for being a mere "rubber stamp" for the prosecution without adequate procedural safeguards . Critics argue that the grand jury has largely lost its historic role as an independent bulwark protecting citizens from unfounded accusations by the government . Grand juries provide little protection to accused suspects and are much more useful to prosecutors . Grand juries have such broad subpoena power that they can investigate alleged crimes very thoroughly and often assist the prosecutor in his or her job . Grand juries sometimes compel witnesses to testify without the presence of their attorneys . Evidence uncovered during the grand jury investigation can be used by the prosecutor in a later trial . Grand jurors also often lack the ability and knowledge to judge sophisticated cases and complicated federal laws . This puts them at the mercy of very well trained and experienced federal prosecutors . Grand jurors often hear only the prosecutor's side of the case and are usually persuaded by them . Grand juries almost always indict people on the prosecutor's recommendation . A chief judge of New York State's highest court, Sol Wachtler, once said that grand juries were so pliable that a prosecutor could get a grand jury to "indict a ham sandwich ." And William J. Campbell, a former federal district judge in Chicago, noted: "(T) oday, the grand jury is the total captive of the prosecutor who, if he is candid, will concede that he can indict anybody, at any time, for almost anything, before any grand jury ." </P> <P> The grand jury system in the United States came under renewed criticism following three high - profile cases in 2014, where police officers caused the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice . In all three cases, after being presented the evidence, the grand juries voted not to return indictments . Public perception was that the officers involved had failed to follow proper police procedure . As a result, these grand jury decisions sparked riots across the United States . </P> <P> Due to the criticism against the federal grand jury system there are some reform proposals which include the following proposals: </P> <Ul> <Li> Better instructions from judges to jurors about the grand jury's powers and its independence from prosecutors </Li> <Li> Increased access to grand jury transcripts for suspects who are eventually indicted </Li> <Li> Expanded safeguards against abuse of witnesses, including education about their rights and the presence of their attorneys </Li> <Li> Notification of targets of investigations that they are targets </Li> <Li> Optional rather than mandatory appearances by targets of investigations </Li> <Li> An end to the requirement that prosecutors present defense evidence, and replacement with a requirement that grand jurors be informed that the defense was not represented in the hearing . </Li> </Ul>

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