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Indictment definition

What does Indictment mean? An indictment is the formal document that sets out the offences for which a defendant will be tried in the higher criminal courts (trial on indictment), and it defines the basis for arraignment, the conduct of the trial and the verdict. It contains one or more counts (England & Wales and Northern Ireland) or charges (Scotland and Ireland), each stating the offence and the particulars of the alleged conduct. It may join multiple defendants and offences where the rules on joinder are met. After a case is sent or committed for trial, the prosecution prepares the indictment and it is...

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Crown Court indictments (England and Wales): creation, electronic generation, preferment routes (including voluntary bills, DPAs, retrials), time limits and procedural requirements

Practice notes
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The provisions governing the format of Indictments and the process for their preparation and Adoption are set out in the following:

  • the Indictments Act 1915 (IA 1915)
  • section 2 of the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 (AJ(MP)A 1933)
  • Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 (CrimPR 2025), SI 2025/909, Pts 3, 10 and 25

For details on what an indictment must include, its structure, how to address defects, and the process for amendments, see Practice Note: —content, form, defects and amendments.

What is an indictment?

An indictment is the official document listing the charges against a defendant, which is preferred (formally served) in the Crown Court. It is a different document from the written charge or information produced by the prosecution to commence a case in the magistrates' court. See Practice Notes: Commencing criminal proceedings—applying for the issue of a summons and Commencing criminal proceedings—written charge and requisition or single justice procedure notice. It is traditionally drafted by the prosecutor, for example the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or another prosecuting authority...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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