Indictment

An indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the most serious criminal offense is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence — an offence that requires an indictment.

In most common law jurisdictions, an indictment was handed up by a grand jury, which returned a "true bill" if it found cause to make the charge, or "no bill" if it did not find cause. The right of one accused of a felony or serious crime to have the charges reviewed for probable cause by a grand jury before being tried by a petit jury, except for certain cases tried in courts-martial, is secured by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that, "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury."