A "bill of indictment" begins as a formal written accusation prepared by a prosecutor. At this stage, it is technically a —a proposal that a specific person committed a specific crime.
The story of a is the journey of a draft accusation becoming a formal legal charge. In the criminal justice system, it represents the critical bridge between an investigation and a full-scale trial. 1. The Draft: The "Bill" Phase bill of indictment
: Historically, these documents had to conclude with formal phrases like "against the peace and dignity of the State" to be legally valid. 2. The Grand Jury Review A "bill of indictment" begins as a formal
: It must be a "plain, concise, and definite" statement of the facts. It often contains multiple counts , each representing a separate alleged offense. In the criminal justice system, it represents the
The prosecutor presents this "bill" to a , a group of typically 16 to 23 citizens. Unlike a trial, this process is secret and involves only the prosecutor, the grand jurors, and witnesses—no defense attorney or judge is present during deliberations.
: The grand jury does not decide guilt. Instead, they look for probable cause —whether it is "more likely than not" that the defendant committed the crime. 3. The Turning Point: "True Bill" vs. "No Bill"