Legal Definitions - bill of indictment

A bill of indictment is a formal document prepared by a prosecutor that outlines specific criminal charges against an individual. This document is then presented to a grand jury, which reviews the presented evidence to determine if there is sufficient probable cause to formally accuse the person of the alleged crimes. If the grand jury agrees there is enough evidence, they will issue a "true bill," which then becomes an indictment, allowing the case to proceed to trial. If they find insufficient evidence, they issue a "no bill," and the charges are typically dropped.

• Example 1: Corporate Fraud Investigation

  Federal prosecutors have concluded a lengthy investigation into a large corporation, suspecting its CEO of orchestrating a multi-million dollar accounting fraud. Before the CEO can be formally charged, the prosecutors draft a bill of indictment detailing the specific fraud charges, the evidence gathered, and the relevant statutes. This document is then presented to a grand jury, which will hear testimony and review documents to decide if there's enough evidence to formally indict the CEO.

• Example 2: High-Profile Violent Crime

  Following a complex investigation into a series of armed robberies that resulted in serious injuries, law enforcement identifies a suspect and gathers substantial evidence, including witness statements, surveillance footage, and forensic findings. The district attorney's office prepares a bill of indictment outlining the charges of armed robbery, assault, and related offenses against the suspect. This bill is then submitted to a grand jury, which will evaluate the evidence to determine if there's probable cause to move forward with a criminal trial.

• Example 3: Public Corruption Case

  A state attorney general's office uncovers evidence suggesting a high-ranking public official has been accepting bribes in exchange for awarding lucrative government contracts. To initiate formal criminal proceedings, the attorney general's team drafts a comprehensive bill of indictment detailing the bribery and corruption charges, including dates, amounts, and specific actions. This document is then presented to a grand jury, which will assess whether the evidence presented warrants a formal indictment against the public official, thereby allowing the case to proceed to court.