Court Functions Practice Test

An indictment is a formal written accusation charging someone with a crime. It’s a charging document used in criminal prosecutions, typically issued after a grand jury reviews evidence presented by the prosecutor. The indictment names the defendant and specifies the offenses charged and the statutes involved, and it sets the step for moving the case toward trial. This concept is distinct from a notarized employment contract (a private agreement), a civil complaint (which starts a civil lawsuit, not a criminal case), or a police report (an investigative document, not a criminal charge). Some jurisdictions use an information instead of an indictment, where a prosecutor files charges directly without a grand jury.