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 Connecticut, criminal charges are formal allegations made by the government that an individual or entity has engaged in criminal conduct. These charges can be initiated by various levels of government, including municipal, county, state, or federal authorities, and are prosecuted by officials such as municipal prosecutors, county attorneys, state's attorneys, or U.S. Attorneys for federal offenses. The severity of charges in Connecticut ranges from minor misdemeanors, like traffic infractions, to serious felonies, including capital offenses. The specific criminal charges are detailed in a charging document, which may take the form of a complaint, an information, or an indictment. A citation or a traffic ticket is typically used for minor offenses such as traffic violations. The process of charging and the type of document used may vary depending on the nature of the alleged crime and the level of the court system in which the case is being prosecuted.