Rule 2.1 1. Information or Indictment

A criminal case officially starts when the prosecutor files a document called an information or indictment. This document lists the charges against the person accused of a crime.

The charges have to be written clearly enough that the accused person and their lawyer can understand what they're being accused of and prepare a defense. The document also has to follow specific state laws about how much detail to include, along with court rules about what information can be included in public records.