What is an Indictment?
An indictment is a formal accusation that someone has committed a crime. It is typically issued by a grand jury, which determines whether there is enough evidence to charge the person with a crime. Indictments are used in legal proceedings to initiate the trial process.
How Does an Indictment Work?
During an indictment, a prosecutor presents evidence to a grand jury, which then decides whether there is enough probable cause to charge the individual with a crime. If the grand jury agrees, they will issue an indictment, which outlines the specific charges against the individual.
- Indictments are typically used in felony cases.
- Indictments are a formal way to bring charges against someone for a crime.
- An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but rather an accusation that must be proven in court.
Examples of Indictments
One example of an indictment is the case of United States v. Smith, where a grand jury indicted Mr. Smith on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud. The indictment outlined the specific actions that Mr. Smith was accused of and the evidence against him.
Case Studies
In a high-profile case, the grand jury issued an indictment against a well-known politician for embezzlement. The indictment detailed the charges against the politician and initiated the trial process.
Statistics on Indictments
According to the Department of Justice, in 2019, there were over 100,000 federal indictments issued in the United States. The majority of these indictments were for drug-related offenses, followed by white-collar crimes and violent crimes.
