Indictment, << ihn DYT muhnt, >> in law, is a written statement accusing one or more persons of a particular crime. An indictment is issued only for a serious crime. In most areas of the United States, an indictment is issued by a grand jury. In the United Kingdom and some of its former colonies, indictments are no longer issued by grand juries. They are issued by government officials or prosecutors in those nations. To issue an indictment in the United States, the grand jury must find that there is probable cause (a good reason) to accuse a person of a crime. The word indictment comes from the old French word enditer, meaning to make known. In an indictment, the grand jury makes known both the accused and the exact offense. See also Grand jury ; Jury ; Trial .
