What is the difference between an indictment and an arrest?

Indictment and arrest are two very different legal proceedings in the state of Utah. An indictment is when a grand jury issues a statement that a member of the community has committed a crime based on evidence presented by the prosecution. An indictment is the first step taken by the prosecution in the criminal process and the accused must appear before a grand jury in order to answer the charges. An arrest, on the other hand, is the act of taking someone into custody by a law enforcement officer when they are suspected of committing a crime. When making an arrest, a law enforcement officer must have probable cause and a warrant issued by a judge. An arrest sets in motion the criminal process, and the accused may then be charged with a crime and have to appear in court. The main difference between an indictment and an arrest is that an indictment is issued by a grand jury, and an arrest is made by law enforcement officials. An indictment typically comes first and is followed by an arrest when law enforcement officials have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed. Ultimately, an indictment and arrest are both used to prosecute those accused of drug crimes in Utah.

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What is the difference between an indictment and an arrest?

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