An indictment is a formal accusation against someone suspected of committing a serious crime.
Indictments are handed down by a grand jury, which is a randomly selected group of 16-23 citizens summoned to serve in the jurisdiction where the charges are being sought. Grand juries do their work in secret. They often meet for weeks at a time and hear evidence in multiple cases.
Grand jury proceedings are one-sided. Defense lawyers are not involved; Prosecutors decide which witnesses and evidence to present. Grand jurors may ask witnesses questions as they determine whether there is probable cause to bring criminal charges.
Probable cause is a standard set forth in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and means that a reasonable person would believe that a crime had been committed. It is substantially less strict than the threshold of beyond a reasonable doubt, which is used to convict someone during a criminal trial.
Where a jury in a criminal trial must reach a unanimous verdict, a grand jury can issue an indictment with a simple majority.
Indictments may be sealed until the suspect appears in court. Prosecutors share their evidence with defense attorneys, who often ask a judge to dismiss the case on various legal grounds.
A trial may not be scheduled for months — or years — after an indictment is handed down.
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