What is the formal charge issued by a grand jury called?

• A. Verdict
• B. Indictment
• C. Acquittal
• D. Information

Answer: (B)

In criminal procedure, a grand jury issues a formal charge called an indictment. The grand jury reviews evidence presented by the prosecutor to determine whether there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed by a named person. If they find enough evidence, they return an indictment, which formally charges the person and allows the case to proceed to trial.

This differs from a verdict, which is the decision a jury makes at the end of a trial about guilt or innocence, and from an acquittal, which is a not-guilty ruling. It also differs from an information, a charging document used by prosecutors without a grand jury in jurisdictions that do not rely on grand jury proceedings.