Art. 470 Value, price, or damage

If a crime charge depends on how much something is worth (like the value of stolen property or the amount of damage caused), then the indictment must state that value or amount. But if the value or amount doesn't change the seriousness of the charge, prosecutors don't need to include it in the indictment at all.

This matters because some crimes are more serious based on dollar amounts. For example, theft charges often depend on how much was stolen, since stealing a small amount is treated differently than stealing a large amount. In cases like this, the indictment has to spell out the value so the defendant knows exactly what charge and penalty they're facing.

On the other hand, if the crime is the same no matter the dollar amount involved, prosecutors can leave that detail out. The rule basically says courts only require this information when it actually affects how serious the charge is.