House Bill 26-021

This bill eliminates the use of grand juries for criminal indictments in the State of San Andreas and requires that felony prosecutions be initiated through the filing of a sworn probable cause affidavit reviewed by a judge. The bill is intended to increase transparency and ensure that criminal charges are supported by clearly articulated factual evidence subject to judicial review.

Under the bill, felony charges may only proceed when a prosecutor or law enforcement officer submits a sworn affidavit establishing probable cause that an offense has been committed and that the accused committed the offense. A judge must independently determine that probable cause exists before charges may move forward. If probable cause cannot be established through a sworn affidavit, charges may not be filed.

The legislation repeals statutory provisions authorizing grand jury indictments and provides that defendants retain existing rights to preliminary hearings and judicial review of probable cause. Indictments returned prior to the effective date of the Act remain valid, while pending grand jury matters must proceed through the affidavit-based charging process.

The purpose of the Act is to replace grand jury proceedings with a uniform, judicially supervised charging system intended to promote accountability, consistency, and transparency in criminal prosecutions.