Rule 566 Application of Indictment Statutes to Information

In Pennsylvania, criminal cases can be started in two ways: through a grand jury indictment or through a document called an "information." An information is a formal charge filed directly by a prosecutor, without needing a grand jury.

When a law uses the word "indictment," it also applies to cases started with an information. So if a law says something applies "after indictment," that same thing applies whether your case started with an indictment or an information. The only exception is when a law was clearly written to apply only to grand jury proceedings.

This means you do not have to worry that your rights or protections under the law are different just because your case was started with an information instead of a grand jury indictment.