what does it mean to be indicted on charges

To be indicted on charges means that a person has been formally accused or charged with committing a crime, typically a felony. This formal accusation comes after a grand jury, which is a group of citizens, reviews evidence presented by a prosecutor. The grand jury's role is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe the accused committed the crime. If they find sufficient evidence, they issue an indictment, which moves the case forward to trial. The indictment itself is not a declaration of guilt but a formal step in the criminal justice process that initiates criminal proceedings against the accused. It signifies that the state is officially accusing the person and intends to prosecute the charges in court. An indictment usually involves a private grand jury proceeding where the prosecutor presents evidence to the jury without the defense present. The grand jury does not decide guilt or innocence but only whether there is enough evidence to bring formal charges. If indicted, the accused will face a criminal case in court, typically starting with an arraignment process. In summary, being indicted means that a legal body has officially charged you with a crime based on evidence sufficient to move forward with prosecution, but it does not mean you are guilty – that determination is made later in a trial if it proceeds that far. The process and requirements can vary by jurisdiction, but this is the general meaning across the U.S. legal system.