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 York, 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, from local (city) to federal, and are prosecuted by officials at the corresponding level, such as city prosecutors, county district attorneys, or the U.S. Attorney for federal offenses. The severity of charges in New York ranges from misdemeanors, like minor traffic infractions, to serious felonies, including murder. The specific charging documents used to formally accuse someone of a crime in New York include complaints, informations, and indictments. A complaint is typically used for the initial charge, often in misdemeanor or lower-level cases. An information is a formal accusation that does not involve a grand jury, used for prosecuting misdemeanors and some felonies. An indictment is a formal charge issued by a grand jury for more serious felony charges. Citations and traffic tickets are used for minor offenses, particularly traffic-related violations.