what does it mean when your indicted

When you are indicted, it means you have been formally accused or charged with committing a crime. This formal accusation is typically made by a grand jury, which is a group of citizens who review evidence presented by a prosecutor to determine if there is enough probable cause to proceed with criminal charges. Being indicted is not a determination of guilt but is the official start of the legal process in which you must defend yourself in court. Indictments are generally reserved for serious offenses, such as felonies. The indictment includes basic information about the charges and signals that a criminal case will move forward, but the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a trial.