Which term describes a formal criminal charge brought by a prosecutor without a grand jury involvement?

Which term describes a formal criminal charge brought by a prosecutor without a grand jury involvement?

• A. Indictment
• B. Information
• C. Waiver
• D. Complaint

Answer: (B)

Information describes a formal criminal charge brought by a prosecutor without grand jury involvement. A grand jury conducts a review and, if it finds probable cause, issues an indictment. When there’s no grand jury, the prosecutor files an information with the court, laying out the charges and the facts supporting probable cause. A complaint can initiate a case in many jurisdictions, often for less serious offenses, and may be followed by an information or other charging document. A waiver is about giving up a right—such as waiving the right to an indictment—not the charging document itself. So, without grand jury involvement, the prosecuting document used is an information.

Information describes a formal criminal charge brought by a prosecutor without grand jury involvement. A grand jury conducts a review and, if it finds probable cause, issues an indictment. When there’s no grand jury, the prosecutor files an information with the court, laying out the charges and the facts supporting probable cause. A complaint can initiate a case in many jurisdictions, often for less serious offenses, and may be followed by an information or other charging document. A waiver is about giving up a right—such as waiving the right to an indictment—not the charging document itself. So, without grand jury involvement, the prosecuting document used is an information.