Rule 37.35 Information - Form of - Contents

When someone is charged with breaking a city or county ordinance, the charge has to be written down in a formal document called an "information." This rule explains what that document must include to be valid.

The information must be in writing and signed by the prosecutor. It has to name the defendant, or if the prosecutor doesn't know the person's name, describe them well enough that they can be identified. It also needs to lay out the basic facts of what the person supposedly did wrong, written in a clear and simple way. If the charge could lead to a harsher punishment based on certain facts, those facts need to be included too.

The document must also state when and where the violation happened, as specifically as possible. Finally, it needs to point to the exact ordinance section that was broken and the section that sets the punishment, along with the standard charge code if one exists for that violation.

This rule exists so defendants know exactly what they're accused of and can prepare a defense. If the information leaves out required details, it could be challenged in court.