Grand Jury Report

Grand Jury Report – 2025 Overview

 
The Grand Jury plays a vital role in the justice system by determining whether sufficient evidence exists to indict individuals on felony charges. These indictments allow the District Attorney’s Office to move forward with formal prosecution, while no-bills indicate cases that lack the evidence required to proceed. The Hinds County District Attorney’s Office prosecutes all felony cases within the Seventh Circuit Court District. This district includes the city of Jackson, Mississippi’s capital and government seat, along with the communities of Bolton, Byram, Clinton, Edwards, Learned, Raymond, Terry, Utica, and various incorporated areas. 

Grand Jury Activity Summary

  • 1,035 Felony Counts Indicted 
  • 1,460 Counts True Billed
  • 1,806 Individual Cases Presented
  • 252 Counts No Billed

Crime Types Indicted

The criminal justice process starts with a police investigation. Once law enforcement concludes its investigation, the case is forwarded to the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office, which then presents it to the Hinds County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury’s role is to issue a “True Bill” if there is sufficient evidence to indict an individual on the charged crime. If the Grand Jury determines that there is insufficient evidence, they issue a “No Bill.” An indictment formally charges the individual with a crime and marks the beginning of the prosecution process. 

Of the 1,806 counts that were indicted in 2025, 45.2% were violent crimes and 54.8% were non-violent. Nonviolent cases included property crimes, drug crimes, and non-violent firearm offenses such as felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm.

Contributions from Law Enforcement

The effectiveness of the Grand Jury process depends on close collaboration with law enforcement. In 2025, 15 law enforcement and investigative agencies submitted felony cases to the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office for Grand Jury consideration. These agencies play a critical role in preparing and presenting cases that lead to formal charges and, ultimately, prosecution. The following agencies submitted across Hinds County: Jackson Police Department, Mississippi Capitol Police, Clinton Police Department, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Byram Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Jackson Fire Department, Terry Police Department, University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Police Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Raymond Police Department, Utica Police Department, Hinds County District Attorney’s Office, Auditor, Utica and Edwards Police Departments.

While all agencies contribute meaningfully to justice in Hinds County, the following were the top 10 agencies by number of True Billed Felony Counts:

Rank

Agency

True Billed Counts

% of Total

1

Jackson Police Department

780

52.28%

2

Mississippi Capitol Police

310

20.78%

3

Clinton Police Department

134

8.98%

4

Hinds County Sheriff’s Office

77

5.16%

5

Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics

47

3.15%

6

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation

25

1.68%

7

Byram Police Department

23

1.5%

8

UMMC Police Department

15

1.01%

9

MS Highway Patrol

12

0.80%

10

MS Department of Human Services

12

0.80%

Each agency’s investigative efforts directly contribute to the ability of the District Attorney’s Office to ensure accountability and pursue justice in felony cases.

The Value of the Grand Jury

The Grand Jury functions as a constitutional safeguard—ensuring that cases are based on credible evidence before proceeding to trial. The 2025 data reflects a justice system that is:

  • Evidence-based
  • Community-focused
  • Strategically aligned with public safety priorities

“The Grand Jury process is a critical gateway to justice. Our office remains committed to working with law enforcement to build strong cases and maintain the integrity of our system.”
— Jody E. Owens II, Hinds County District Attorney