Indictment facts for kids
An indictment is a formal statement that says someone might have done something seriously wrong. It's like a serious accusation. In the past, special groups called grand juries would decide if there was enough evidence to make an indictment.
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What is an Indictment?
An indictment is a written accusation. It means that a person is formally charged with a serious wrongdoing. It's not a final decision that they are guilty. Instead, it's the first step in a legal process.
How Indictments Work
When an indictment is made, it means that there is enough evidence to believe a person should go to trial. This process helps to make sure that people are not put on trial without good reason. It's a way to check the evidence first.
Grand Juries and Indictments
- A grand jury is a special group of citizens.
- They listen to evidence presented by a prosecutor.
- Their job is to decide if there's enough evidence to issue an indictment.
- If they agree, they issue a "true bill," which is the indictment.
- If they don't agree, they issue a "no bill," and no indictment is made.
- Many places today do not use grand juries for this step.
Sealed Indictments
Sometimes, an indictment can be "sealed." This means it is kept secret for a while. It is not made public until a certain time. This might happen to allow authorities to prepare for an arrest. Or it could be to keep an investigation secret. Once it's ready, the indictment is "unsealed" and becomes public.
