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.
: 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 bill of indictment
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 A "bill of indictment" begins as a formal
: 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" bill of indictment