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ken120 t1_jee8c4f wrote

Indictment is just when the prosecutors file the charges against the person. Arraignment is when the person goes in front of the judge to either enter his or her plea of guilty, not guilty, no contest or to confirm the plea deal arranged between the prosecutors and defense.

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webby37 OP t1_jee8gl1 wrote

Replying to ken120 (#2,524,024)

Can I press more: I guess we use charge and indictment interchangeably, then, to essentially mean the paper versus the presentation of them? Am I in the ballpark?

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ken120 t1_jee93k7 wrote

Replying to webby37 (#2,524,056)

Indictment is more the formal process of filing charges. When the prosecutors believe they have sufficient evidence to support them in court. They can enlist a grand jury to decide if there is enough evidence to warrant it before hand, but all the grand jury looks for is if they believe there is enough evidence to go to trial, usually used in what expected to be high profile cases not always used.

Arraignment is the formal procedure for the defendant to enter his plea with the judge.

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Remarkable_Inchworm t1_jef1289 wrote

Saw this posted earlier today on a friend's feed... pretty clear breakdown of the flow from indictment to arraignment to trial:

https://imgur.com/h6xbCPq

(Had posted this earlier but it was removed, I guess because I didn't explain what's behind the link?)

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Flair_Helper t1_jef2x4b wrote

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