Rule 3 The Complaint

A complaint is the document that starts a criminal case. It's a written statement that lays out the basic facts about what crime the person is accused of committing. It doesn't need to include every detail, just enough facts to show what happened and why it's a crime.

For misdemeanors, which are less serious crimes, the complaint alone is enough to bring charges. This means prosecutors don't need a grand jury or a more formal charging document for these lower level offenses. The complaint gets the case moving through the court system.

If you're facing charges based on a complaint, you have the right to see this document. It should tell you what you're accused of doing and give you enough information to understand the charge against you.