Criminal charges are formal accusations of criminal conduct made by a governmental authority against a person or entity. Criminal charges are usually filed or initiated by a city, county, state, or the federal government, acting through a public prosecutor—also known as a municipal prosecutor, county attorney, district attorney, state attorney general, or United States Attorney (for federal crimes). Criminal charges range from low-level misdemeanors such as traffic tickets to first degree felonies such as capital murder.

The charging document in which the specific crime(s) alleged to have been committed are specified may be referred to as (1) a complaint; (2) an information; (3) an indictment; (4) a citation; or (5) a traffic ticket.

In Alaska, criminal charges are formal allegations of wrongdoing brought against individuals or entities by the government. These charges can be initiated by various levels of government, including municipal, county, state, or federal authorities, and are prosecuted by the appropriate public prosecutor, such as a city prosecutor, district attorney, or the U.S. Attorney for federal offenses. The severity of charges in Alaska ranges from minor misdemeanors, like traffic infractions, to serious felonies, including murder. The specific criminal charges are detailed in a charging document, which may take the form of a complaint, information, indictment, citation, or traffic ticket, depending on the nature of the offense and the stage of the criminal process. A complaint or information typically initiates misdemeanor charges, while an indictment is required for felony charges and is issued by a grand jury. Citations and traffic tickets are used for minor infractions and regulatory offenses.