What Is an Indictable Offense?
An indictable offense is a crime that may only be tried after a preliminary hearing has occurred, to determine the severity of the crime in question. This decision is made by a separate jury prior to trial proceedings, based on evidence provided by prosecuting attorneys. This terminology is specific to countries that have common law jurisdiction. An indictment is a written document that allows the state’s legal council to move forward with the prosecution of an individual or group of individuals for a specified crime. This documentation is provided by a jury — known as a grand jury in the US — which is convened specifically for the purpose of determining whether enough evidence exists to go to trial. This jury may be selected by the prosecution and is typically comprised of a panel of legal citizens.
