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 California, criminal charges are formal allegations of wrongdoing brought against individuals or entities by the government. These charges can be initiated by local (city or county), state, or federal prosecuting authorities. At the local level, city attorneys or county district attorneys typically file charges. For state-level offenses, the California Attorney General may be involved, while federal crimes are prosecuted by United States Attorneys. The severity of charges ranges from minor misdemeanors, such as traffic infractions, to serious felonies, including capital murder. The specific criminal charges are detailed in charging documents, which can take various forms: a complaint is often used for initiating misdemeanor or felony charges; an information is a formal charge filed by the prosecutor after a preliminary hearing; an indictment is a formal charge issued by a grand jury; a citation or a traffic ticket is typically used for minor offenses and infractions. The type of charging document used depends on the nature of the offense and the stage of the criminal process.