An indictment is used when charges are brought by which body?

• A. Petit jury
• B. Grand jury
• C. Court
• D. Prosecutor

Answer: (B)

An indictment is issued by a grand jury. In felony cases, the grand jury meets in secret to review evidence presented by the prosecutor and decides whether there is enough probable cause to charge someone with crimes. If they find sufficient evidence, they hand down an indictment, a formal accusation that moves the case toward trial. The actual trial is conducted in court and decided by a petit jury, but the charging document comes from the grand jury, not from the prosecutor alone. The prosecutor plays a role in presenting evidence to the grand jury and in prosecuting the case at trial, but charges originate with the grand jury, not the court or the trial jury.