To be indicted for a crime means that a person is formally accused or charged with committing a crime. An indictment is a legal document issued by a grand jury or a prosecuting authority that states there is enough evidence to proceed with criminal charges and take the case to trial. It is not a declaration of guilt but an official step in the legal process that initiates criminal proceedings against the accused. The grand jury reviews the evidence presented by the prosecutor to decide if there is probable cause to believe the person committed the crime. If the grand jury agrees, they issue the indictment, which leads to formal charges and moves the case toward trial.
Key points about indictment include:
- It is a formal accusation, not a conviction.
- It typically follows a grand jury's decision that sufficient evidence exists.
- It can happen before or after an arrest.
- It initiates the criminal justice process where the accused must defend against the charges.
- An indictment usually applies to serious crimes like felonies.
