An accusatory document presented by a grand jury charging a named individual with a crime is called what?

An accusatory document presented by a grand jury charging a named individual with a crime is called what?

• A. Information
• B. Warrant
• C. Indictment
• D. Complaint

Answer: (C)

An indictment is the formal charging document issued by a grand jury when it finds enough evidence to charge a named person with a crime. It names the defendant and the offense, and it starts the criminal case in court. This is why it’s the right choice here—the document comes from the grand jury, not from a prosecutor, and it specifically serves as the accusation against the individual. In contrast, a warrant is a court order to arrest or search, while a complaint or an information are charging documents typically brought by a prosecutor without involving a grand jury.

An indictment is the formal charging document issued by a grand jury when it finds enough evidence to charge a named person with a crime. It names the defendant and the offense, and it starts the criminal case in court. This is why it’s the right choice here—the document comes from the grand jury, not from a prosecutor, and it specifically serves as the accusation against the individual. In contrast, a warrant is a court order to arrest or search, while a complaint or an information are charging documents typically brought by a prosecutor without involving a grand jury.