Legal Definitions - charge sheet

A charge sheet is a formal document prepared by law enforcement or military authorities that officially lists the specific accusations made against an individual who has been taken into custody or is facing disciplinary action. It details the alleged offenses, identifies the person accused, and often includes information about the accusers or witnesses. This document serves as the initial formal record of the charges, setting the stage for further legal proceedings, whether in a civilian court or a military court-martial.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of a charge sheet:

• Example 1: Civilian Arrest for Shoplifting

  Imagine a person is apprehended by store security for attempting to leave a department store with unpaid merchandise. When the police arrive and arrest the individual, they will prepare a charge sheet. This document will formally record the person's name, the date and time of the incident, the specific charge (e.g., "petty theft" or "shoplifting"), and the name of the store security officer who initiated the complaint. This charge sheet then becomes the official record used to initiate the criminal case in the local court system.

• Example 2: Formal Accusation of Assault

  Consider a situation where an individual is involved in a physical altercation, and the police are called. After investigating and taking statements, the police decide to arrest one of the individuals for assault. A charge sheet would be completed, listing the accused person's details, the specific legal charge (e.g., "assault and battery"), the name of the victim, and potentially details of any witnesses. This document formally outlines the accusations that the prosecutor will use to pursue the case in court.

• Example 3: Military Disciplinary Action

  A soldier in the army is accused of failing to report for duty and showing disrespect to a superior officer. The military authorities would prepare a charge sheet. This document would include the soldier's rank, name, and unit, along with the specific articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) they are alleged to have violated (e.g., Article 86 for "Absence Without Leave" and Article 91 for "Insubordinate Conduct"). It would also detail the specific incidents, list any witnesses, and recommend whether the case should proceed to a summary, special, or general court-martial. This charge sheet formally initiates the military justice process against the service member.