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 New Jersey, 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's office. Depending on the level of the alleged crime, the prosecutor could be a municipal prosecutor, county prosecutor, the New Jersey Attorney General, or a U.S. Attorney for federal offenses. Criminal offenses in New Jersey are categorized into indictable offenses (similar to felonies in other states), disorderly persons offenses (similar to misdemeanors), and petty disorderly persons offenses. The severity of the charge can range from minor infractions, like traffic violations, to serious crimes, such as murder. The specific charges are outlined in a charging document, which may take the form of a complaint, an information, an indictment, a citation, or a traffic ticket. An indictment is typically used for more serious charges and requires a grand jury proceeding, whereas a complaint or information may be used for lower-level offenses.