What is the difference between an indictment and an information?

An indictment and an information are both documents that are filed by the prosecution in a criminal case. The main difference between the two is that an indictment is issued by a grand jury, while an information is issued by the prosecution. A grand jury is a panel of citizens who are presented with evidence by the prosecution in order to determine whether there is enough evidence to charge an individual with a crime. If the grand jury finds that sufficient evidence exists, they will issue an indictment. An information, on the other hand, is a document filed directly by the prosecution, without the involvement of a grand jury. The prosecutor will file an information if they have sufficient evidence to charge an individual with a crime, but do not feel that the grand jury process is necessary. In South Dakota, white collar crimes such as fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, and identity theft may be charged with either an indictment or an information. The prosecutor will determine which document is most appropriate, based on the evidence they have available.

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What is the difference between an indictment and an information?

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