6.04 Information

Here's a plain English summary:

The prosecutor (the attorney representing the Commonwealth) can start a criminal case by filing a document called an "information." This is a formal written statement charging someone with a crime.

The prosecutor can file this charge based on what they personally know or believe about the case. Or, they can choose to file it based on a sworn complaint that someone else has given them. Either way, it's up to the prosecutor to decide how to move forward.

This rule basically gives prosecutors flexibility in how they bring charges. They don't always need a witness or victim to swear out a complaint first. They can act on their own knowledge of a situation, or they can rely on someone else's sworn statement if they think that's the better path.