In criminal proceedings, which document is typically issued by a grand jury charging a person with a crime?

In criminal proceedings, which document is typically issued by a grand jury charging a person with a crime?

• A. Complaint
• B. Writ
• C. Indictment
• D. Plea

Answer: (C)

Indictment is the formal charging document issued by a grand jury when it finds probable cause that a person committed a crime. The grand jury reviews evidence and, if there’s enough to proceed, returns an indictment to bring the charges before a court. This document names the defendant and specifies the offenses, sometimes outlining essential facts. A complaint, by contrast, is an initial accusation typically filed by a prosecutor or law enforcement to start proceedings in a lower court and can lead to arrest warrants or preliminary hearings. A writ is a court order directing some action, not a charging instrument. A plea is the defendant’s response at arraignment, not something the grand jury issues. So the document that fits the scenario is the indictment.

Indictment is the formal charging document issued by a grand jury when it finds probable cause that a person committed a crime. The grand jury reviews evidence and, if there’s enough to proceed, returns an indictment to bring the charges before a court. This document names the defendant and specifies the offenses, sometimes outlining essential facts. A complaint, by contrast, is an initial accusation typically filed by a prosecutor or law enforcement to start proceedings in a lower court and can lead to arrest warrants or preliminary hearings. A writ is a court order directing some action, not a charging instrument. A plea is the defendant’s response at arraignment, not something the grand jury issues. So the document that fits the scenario is the indictment.