Rule 21.01 Misdemeanors - Indictment or Information

If someone is charged with a misdemeanor in Missouri, the state has to formally accuse them using one of two documents: an indictment or an information. An indictment comes from a grand jury, while an information is a written charge filed by the prosecutor. Either one works to officially start a misdemeanor case in court.

This matters because it means prosecutors can't charge someone with a misdemeanor informally or verbally. They have to put the charge in writing and file it properly with the court. This gives the person being charged a clear, official record of what they're accused of doing.