The grand jury consists of not less than 12 nor more than 18 members.

When a grand jury does not return an indictment, the charge is dismissed, and it may not be again submitted to or inquired into by the grand jury unless the court so orders.

The grand jury may indict or present a person for a crime upon sufficient evidence, whether that person has been held to answer for the crime or not.

If an individual grand juror knows or has reason to believe that a crime has been committed that is triable by the court, the juror shall disclose it to the other jurors, who shall investigate it.

A grand juror cannot be questioned for anything the juror may say or any vote the juror may give while acting as a grand juror, in relation to any matter legally pending before the grand jury, except for a perjury of which the juror may have been guilty in giving testimony before that jury.

The grand jury shall inquire into all crimes committed or triable within the jurisdiction of the court and present them to the court. The grand jury shall have the power to investigate and make recommendations concerning the public welfare or safety.

The grand jury is entitled to access, at all reasonable times, to the public jails and prisons, to offices pertaining to the courts of justice in the state, and to all other public offices, and to the examination of all public records in the state.

Grand jurors shall have the qualifications and be drawn as are trial jurors under Section 09.20.010 - 09.20.080.

(a) The indictment must be direct and certain as it regards

(1) the party charged;

(2) the crime charged; and

(3) the particular circumstances of the crime charged when they are necessary to constitute a complete crime.

(b) The statement of the facts constituting the offense must be in ordinary and concise language, without repetition, and in a manner that will enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended.

The prosecuting attorney

(1) shall submit an indictment to the grand jury and cause the evidence in support of the indictment to be brought before them in every case when a person is held to answer a criminal charge in the court where the jury is formed;

(2) may submit an indictment in any case when the prosecuting attorney has good reason to believe a crime has been committed that is triable by the court; and

(3) shall, when required by the grand jury, prepare indictments or presentments for them and attend their sittings to advise them in relation to their duties or to examine witnesses in their presence.

(a) In a prosecution for an offense under Section 11.41.410 - 11.41.458, hearsay evidence of a statement related to the offense, not otherwise admissible, made by a child who is the victim of the offense may be admitted into evidence before the grand jury if

(1) the circumstances of the statement indicate its reliability;

(2) the child is under 10 years of age when the hearsay evidence is sought to be admitted;

(3) additional evidence is introduced to corroborate the statement; and

(4) the child testifies at the grand jury proceeding or the child will be available to testify at trial.

(b) In this section 'statement' means an oral or written assertion or nonverbal conduct if the nonverbal conduct is intended as an assertion.