Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An accusatory instrument is a paper that says someone did something wrong and accuses them of a crime. It has to be signed by someone who knows what happened. If it's not given to the person accused in the right way, the case might be thrown out. The most common kind of accusatory instrument is called an indictment, but there are other kinds for smaller crimes too.
An accusatory instrument is a legal document that formally accuses someone of committing a crime. It is similar to a criminal complaint and must be signed by someone who has knowledge of the alleged criminal activity.
If the accusatory instrument is not properly given to the defendant, the case may be dismissed. The most common type of accusatory instrument is an indictment, but there are also alternative instruments for misdemeanors and infractions, such as tickets.
These examples illustrate how an accusatory instrument is used to formally accuse someone of a crime or violation. They also show that there are different types of accusatory instruments for different types of offenses.