1. The formal written accusation of a crime, made by a grand jury and presented to a court for prosecution against the accused person. See Fed. R. Crim. P.
7. [Cases: Indictment and Information 17. C.J.S. Indictments and Informations § 28.]
2. The act or process of preparing or bringing forward such a formal written accusation. Cf. INFORMATION; PRESENTMENT(2).
barebones indictment. An indictment that cites only the language of the statute allegedly violated; an indictment that does not provide a factual statement.
“What has been called ‘a bare bones indictment using only statutory language’ is quite common, and entirely permissible so long as the statute sets forth fully, directly, and expressly all essential elements of the crime intended to be punished.” 1 Charles Alan Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure § 125, at 558–59 (3d ed. 1999).
duplicitous indictment (d[y]oo-plis-[schwa]-t[schwa]s).
1. An indictment containing two or more offenses in the same count. [Cases: Indictment and Information 125. C.J.S. Indictments and Informations §§ 146–148.]
2. An indictment charging the same offense in more than one count.
joint indictment. An indictment that charges two or more people with an offense.
