Legal Definitions - indict

Indict

To indict a person means that a formal accusation has been made against them, asserting that there is sufficient evidence to believe they have committed a serious crime and should face a trial. This formal accusation is typically issued by a grand jury, which reviews evidence presented by a prosecutor and determines if there is probable cause to proceed with criminal charges.

• Example 1: After reviewing extensive financial records and witness testimonies, a grand jury voted to indict a former company executive on multiple charges of fraud and embezzlement. This decision means the grand jury found enough evidence to formally accuse the executive of the crimes and move forward with a criminal trial.

• Example 2: Following a lengthy investigation into public corruption, a special prosecutor presented evidence to a grand jury, which subsequently chose to indict a city council member for bribery and abuse of power. The indictment signifies the grand jury's formal finding that there is probable cause to believe the council member committed the alleged crimes and should be tried in court.

• Example 3: Federal authorities spent months gathering evidence against a suspected drug trafficking syndicate operating across several states. Once the evidence was presented to a federal grand jury, they decided to indict several key members of the group on racketeering and conspiracy charges. This formal accusation allows the government to proceed with prosecuting these individuals in federal court.