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 Texas, criminal charges are formal allegations made by a government authority accusing an individual or entity of engaging in illegal activity. These charges can be initiated by various levels of government, including city, county, state, or federal authorities, and are prosecuted by officials such as municipal prosecutors, county attorneys, district attorneys, the state attorney general, or United States Attorneys for federal offenses. The severity of charges in Texas ranges from minor misdemeanors, like traffic violations, to serious felonies, including capital murder which can carry the death penalty. The specific allegations are detailed in charging documents, which may be called a complaint, information, indictment, citation, or traffic ticket, depending on the nature of the crime and the stage of the criminal process. A complaint or information typically precedes a misdemeanor charge, while an indictment is required for felony charges and is issued by a grand jury. Citations and traffic tickets are used for minor infractions and violations.
