Rule 22.01 Felonies - Proceedings - How Initiated

Felony cases in Missouri can start in one of two ways. Prosecutors can file a document called a complaint, or a grand jury can issue an indictment. Either method is a valid way to formally begin a felony case against someone.

A complaint is a written statement, usually filed by a prosecutor, that lays out the charges against a person. An indictment comes from a grand jury, a group of citizens who review evidence and decide whether there's enough reason to charge someone with a crime. Both paths lead to the same result: they officially kick off the criminal case and set the legal process in motion.

For someone facing felony charges, this means the case could start either way depending on how the prosecutor's office handles it. The method used doesn't change the seriousness of the charges or the rights the person has going forward. It simply reflects the procedure the state chose to get the case started.