Indictment

Indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. It is typically issued by a grand jury, which is a group of citizens called to review evidence and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with a crime.

Overview

An indictment is a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime. It is a legal process where a grand jury reviews the evidence presented by a prosecutor to determine whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. The grand jury can either indict, meaning they believe there is enough evidence for a trial, or they can decline to indict.

Legal Process

The process of an indictment begins with a prosecutor presenting evidence to a grand jury. The grand jury is made up of citizens who are sworn to secrecy. They review the evidence and listen to witnesses to determine if there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. If the grand jury believes there is enough evidence, they will issue an indictment. The accused will then be arraigned and a trial date will be set.

Types of Indictments

There are two main types of indictments: true bill and no bill. A 'true bill' is when the grand jury believes there is enough evidence to indict, while a 'no bill' is when they do not believe there is enough evidence.

Differences in Jurisdictions

The use and process of indictments can vary greatly between different jurisdictions. In some places, a preliminary hearing before a judge may be used instead of a grand jury indictment. In others, a prosecutor may file an information instead of an indictment.

See Also

• Prosecutor
• Grand Jury
• Jurisdiction
• Criminal Law

References

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