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 Rhode Island, 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 city, county, and state authorities, as well as the federal government for federal offenses. The prosecution of these charges is typically handled by public prosecutors such as city solicitors, town solicitors, the Attorney General's office for state crimes, and U.S. Attorneys for federal crimes. Criminal charges in Rhode Island can range from minor misdemeanors, like traffic violations, to serious felonies, including capital offenses. 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.