What is the difference between a federal indictment and an information?

An indictment and an information are two different legal documents used in criminal cases. An indictment is a formal charge issued by a grand jury which accuses a person of committing a crime. A grand jury is a special jury of 12 to 23 people who listen to evidence presented by the prosecutor and decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial. An information, on the other hand, is a formal charge issued by a prosecutor that declares that a person is alleged to have committed a crime. A prosecutor has the power to file an information without involving a grand jury. In federal crimes cases in California, indictments and informations are the only two ways that a person can be charged with a crime. However, which type of charge is used is often determined by the seriousness of the crime. For example, indictments are more likely for serious felonies like murder, assault, and fraud. In contrast, informations are more likely for misdemeanors and other less serious offenses. Overall, the primary difference between an indictment and an information is that an indictment is issued by a grand jury while an information is filed by a prosecutor. Both documents are used to accuse someone of a crime in federal crimes cases but depend on the type of offense and its severity.

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What is the difference between a federal indictment and an information?

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