Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: Lord Chief Justice of England
Substitute Information in Lieu of Indictment: A formal criminal charge made by a prosecutor without a grand-jury indictment. It is used to prosecute misdemeanors in most states and sometimes used in felony prosecutions as well. It is a document that replaces a previously returned indictment, usually because the indictment is defective or because the prosecutor has added, altered, or deleted facts and allegations.
Definition: Substitute information in lieu of indictment is a formal criminal charge made by a prosecutor without a grand-jury indictment. It is used to prosecute misdemeanors in most states, and about half the states allow its use in felony prosecutions as well. The prosecutor files this information to take the place of a previously returned indictment, usually because the indictment is defective or because the prosecutor has added, altered, or deleted facts and allegations.
Examples:
These examples illustrate how a prosecutor can use a substitute information in lieu of indictment to correct or supplement an indictment. It allows the prosecutor to proceed with the case without having to wait for a new grand jury indictment.