what is indictment

An indictment is a formal written accusation that someone has committed a crime, usually issued after a grand jury decides there is enough evidence to charge that person and move the case toward trial.

Basic meaning

• In criminal law, an indictment is an official document listing the specific criminal charges against a person.

• It does not decide guilt or innocence; it only means a jury has found “probable cause” to believe a crime may have been committed and that the accused might be responsible.

How an indictment happens

• A prosecutor presents evidence to a grand jury (a group of citizens who meet in secret) and explains the suspected crimes.

• If the grand jury believes there is enough evidence, it “returns” an indictment (sometimes called a “true bill”); if not, it returns “no bill,” and no indictment is issued on that evidence.

What an indictment leads to

• Once indicted, the accused is formally notified of the charges and usually appears in court to enter a plea (guilty, not guilty, etc.).

• The indictment ensures the person knows exactly what crimes are alleged and helps prevent being tried twice for the same offense under those same charges.

Indictment vs. other accusations

• An indictment is more serious than a rumor or media accusation because it follows a defined legal process with a grand jury and a prosecutor.

• In some systems, prosecutors can instead file a criminal complaint or information directly with a court, but for many serious federal crimes in the U.S., an indictment by a grand jury is required.

Why it is a trending term

• The word “indictment” often appears in high‑profile political or celebrity cases, which makes “what is indictment” a common search and discussion topic whenever new charges are announced in the news.

TL;DR: An indictment is an official document, usually from a grand jury, formally charging someone with a crime because there is enough evidence to start a criminal case, but it is not a conviction.