CRIMINAL INDICTMENT Meaning and
Definition
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A criminal indictment is a formal written accusation or charge against an individual or an entity for committing a crime, issued by a grand jury or a prosecutor. It is a crucial step in the legal process that initiates a criminal case against the accused party, particularly in common law jurisdictions such as the United States.
To obtain a criminal indictment, a grand jury reviews evidence and testimony presented by the prosecution, and determines whether there is sufficient evidence to bring formal charges against the accused. The grand jury's decision is typically based on a standard of probable cause, which means that there is reasonable belief that the accused has committed the offense.
Once an indictment is issued, it serves as the official charging instrument in a criminal trial, outlining the specific crimes the accused is being charged with and the relevant legal statutes that have allegedly been violated. It also indicates the date, time, and location of the alleged offense. The indictment provides the accused with formal notice of the charges and ensures their right to due process, including the opportunity to mount a defense.
In essence, a criminal indictment marks the beginning of a formal legal process, wherein the accused is informed of the charges against them, and they can proceed to trial to either prove their innocence or have their guilt determined by a judge or jury.
Common Misspellings for CRIMINAL INDICTMENT
- xriminal indictment
- vriminal indictment
- friminal indictment
- driminal indictment
- ceiminal indictment
- cdiminal indictment
- cfiminal indictment
- ctiminal indictment
- c5iminal indictment
- c4iminal indictment
- cruminal indictment
- crjminal indictment
- crkminal indictment
- crominal indictment
- cr9minal indictment
- cr8minal indictment
- crininal indictment
- crikinal indictment
- crijinal indictment
- crimunal indictment
Etymology of CRIMINAL INDICTMENT
The word "indictment" originated from the Latin term "indictamentum", which comes from the verb "indicare", meaning "to accuse" or "to charge". This Latin term was derived from the prefix "in-" (meaning "in" or "against") and "dicere" (meaning "to say" or "to declare").
In medieval Latin, "indictamentum" specifically referred to a formal written accusation or charge presented before a court. Over time, the term was adopted into English, retaining its general meaning of a formal accusation or charge brought against a person in legal proceedings.
The word "criminal" is derived from the Latin term "criminālis", which is derived from the noun "crimen", meaning "crime". "Crimen" itself is derived from the verb "cernere", which means "to sift" or "to decide".
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