Indictment – A formal, written accusation by the grand jury that there is enough evidence to believe the defendant has committed a crime. An indictment is sometimes referred to as a true bill.
When a person is formally charged with a crime by a grand jury?
Indictment : a formal written accusation, made by a grand jury after submission by the prosecutor and filed in a court, alleging that a specific person committed a specific crime. The office of the District Attorney prepares indictments.
What term means a document issued by a grand jury to charge someone with a crime?
indictment – The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
What is it called when a defendant is formally charged in court with a crime?
Arraignment – A hearing in which the defendant is formally charged and can plead either guilty, not guilty or no contest. ... Defendant – The person charged with a criminal offense. This is the person alleged to have committed a particular crime. Dismissal – The charge or charges against the defendant are dismissed.
Who decides if charges are filed?
A criminal case usually gets started with a police arrest report. The prosecutor then decides what criminal charges to file, if any. Some cases go to a preliminary hearing, where a judge decides if there is enough evidence to proceed. Cases can also start when a grand jury issues a criminal indictment.
What cases go to a grand jury?
The grand jury plays an important role in the criminal process, but not one that involves a finding of guilt or punishment of a party. Instead, a prosecutor will work with a grand jury to decide whether to bring criminal charges or an indictment against a potential defendant — usually reserved for serious felonies.
How long does a grand jury have to indict someone?
The statute of limitations is five years for most federal offenses, three years for most state offenses . The federal and state grand juries are impaneled for a specific period of time; however, if they do not reach a conclusion on your case, the prosecutor can start over with the newly impaneled grand jury.
What kind of lawyer defends the victim?
Defense attorney or public defender : The lawyer who defends the accused person. A public defender is appointed if the accused is unable to pay for an attorney.
What is the victim called in court?
A witness is a person who saw a crime or was a victim of a crime. A witness can be subpoenaed (ordered to attend court) as set out in the Criminal Code of Canada or by a criminal proceeding in the NWT. Witnesses are called to court to answer questions about a case.
What is a formal accusation of a crime?
Indictment – A formal, written accusation by the grand jury that there is enough evidence to believe the defendant has committed a crime. An indictment is sometimes referred to as a true bill.
Is being bound over a criminal Offence?
Is a Bind Over a conviction? No. A bind over to keep the peace is an order used to prevent certain behaviour from occurring in the future. It is not a conviction in itself and can be ordered against a person who has not been convicted of any criminal offence (see above).
What is the difference between a defendant in a civil case and a defendant in a criminal case?
Civil law deals with the harm, loss, or injury to one party or the other. A defendant in a civil case is found liable or not liable for damages , while in a criminal case defendant may be found guilty or not.
Can a good lawyer get charges dropped?
The first way your attorney can get the charges against you to be reduced is by having them dropped or dismissed. ... Even if your attorney can’t have the charges against you dropped or dismissed, he or she may be able to have them reduced. One of the most common ways this is done is through a plea deal .
How long do police have to charge you?
Effectively, this means the police must charge (or lay an information before a Magistrates’ Clerk) within six months of the date of the offence (section 127(1) Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980). For all other offences, there is no statutory time limit.
How do I know if my case was dismissed?
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CASE WAS DISMISSED? Your lawyer will inform you of the status of your case . If it is an old case, or if you need confirmation of your case’s status, you can look it up in the public records.
What is the difference between being charged and being indicted?
Essentially, the difference between the two depends upon who has filed charges against you. If you have been charged, this means a state or federal prosecutor filed charges against you. If you have been indicted, this means a grand jury has filed charges against you .
