A "bill of indictment" begins as a formal written accusation prepared by a prosecutor. At this stage, it is technically a —a proposal that a specific person committed a specific crime.
: The grand jury does not decide guilt. Instead, they look for probable cause —whether it is "more likely than not" that the defendant committed the crime. 3. The Turning Point: "True Bill" vs. "No Bill" bill of indictment
After hearing the evidence, the grand jury votes on the draft: Drafting the Indictment | The Crown Prosecution Service A "bill of indictment" begins as a formal
: It must be a "plain, concise, and definite" statement of the facts. It often contains multiple counts , each representing a separate alleged offense. Instead, they look for probable cause —whether it
: Historically, these documents had to conclude with formal phrases like "against the peace and dignity of the State" to be legally valid. 2. The Grand Jury Review
The prosecutor presents this "bill" to a , a group of typically 16 to 23 citizens. Unlike a trial, this process is secret and involves only the prosecutor, the grand jurors, and witnesses—no defense attorney or judge is present during deliberations.
The story of a is the journey of a draft accusation becoming a formal legal charge. In the criminal justice system, it represents the critical bridge between an investigation and a full-scale trial. 1. The Draft: The "Bill" Phase