What is an indictment?
An indictment is a formal accusation charging you with a crime. Just because you’ve been arrested for an offense doesn’t mean you’ve been formally charged. An indictment is a formal charging instrument returned by a grand jury finding that there’s probable cause that you committed an offense.
In federal court as well as in the state of Texas usually all felony offenses must be charged by an indictment. An indictment is basically a piece of paper that gives the person who’s been charged with a crime information telling them what type of offense they’ve been charged with and also the penalties that they may face as a result of that.
Also, you should know that an indictment is not any evidence of a guilt and couldn’t be used by a jury at your trial as evidence of guilt. It’s simply a charging instrument to put you on notice of what the government is saying you did to violate the law.
Author Bio
James P. Whalen
James P. Whalen is the managing attorney and founder of Whalen Law Office, a Texas criminal defense firm offering personalized legal representation for various federal criminal charges. With a commitment to providing comfort and guidance during challenging times, Mr. Whalen serves as both an attorney and counselor to his clients, helping them navigate their cases while striving to restore normalcy to their lives.
In an inherently unbalanced criminal justice system, Mr. Whalen takes on cases with unwavering dedication. With decades of legal experience, he offers representation across various criminal charges, including white-collar crimes, violent crimes, drug charges, and more. Mr. Whalen’s numerous accolades, including Super Lawyer recognition and board certification in Criminal Appellate Law and Criminal Law, reflect his unwavering commitment to ethical and high-quality legal representation.