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

The difference between a federal indictment and an information lies in the way each handles the prosecution of a criminal charge. An indictment is a formal charge issued by a grand jury that accuses someone of committing a crime. On the other hand, an information is a criminal charge issued by a prosecutor without a grand jury. In the state of South Carolina, the grand jury decides whether or not there is sufficient evidence to move forward with a criminal charge. If the grand jury decides there is enough evidence, they will issue an indictment, beginning a formal criminal charge. In contrast, an information does not involve a grand jury. Instead, it is an easier and faster way for a prosecutor to charge an individual with a crime. A prosecutor can issue an information if he or she believes there is sufficient evidence to support a criminal charge. Overall, a federal indictment and an information are both considered criminal charges and both carry serious penalties. However, while an indictment is the result of a grand jury investigation, an information is issued by a prosecutor without a grand jury. Therefore, the main difference between a federal indictment and an information is that one is issued by a grand jury and the other by a prosecutor.

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

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