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 West Virginia, 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, state, or federal authorities, and are prosecuted by public prosecutors at the corresponding level, such as municipal prosecutors, county attorneys, or the United States Attorney for federal offenses. The severity of criminal charges in West Virginia can range from minor misdemeanors, like traffic violations, to serious felonies, including capital murder. The specific crimes that an individual is accused of are detailed in a charging document, which may take the form of a complaint, an information, an indictment, a citation, or a traffic ticket. The type of charging document used typically depends on the nature of the offense and the stage of the criminal process. For example, misdemeanors may often be charged by citation or complaint, while felonies typically require an indictment or information after a preliminary hearing or grand jury proceeding.