criminal accusation
Official wrongdoing allegation
A criminal accusation is a formal claim that someone has committed a crime.
It may come from law enforcement, a prosecutor, or a grand jury indictment.
The accusation initiates legal proceedings but doesn't establish guilt: The criminal accusation was later dropped for lack of evidence.
Distinguished from civil complaints, which involve disputes between private parties rather than alleged crimes against the state.
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- defendantParty facing charges
- theftUnlawful taking of property
testimony · charge sheet · prosecutor · forensic evidence · confession · witness · take the stand · probable cause · court of law · plea bargain · circumstantial evidence · fraud · sentencing · victim · alibi · judge · guilty verdict · not guilty
criminal accusationcivil complaint
Lawsuit's initiating document
civil action · civil litigation · property dispute · civil suit · civil lawsuit
criminal accusationacquittal
Formal clearing of charges
exoneration · vindication · not guilty verdict · absolution · dropped charges
criminal accusationdefense
Protection against harm
exculpation · commendation · vindication · award · testimonial
criminal, crimes, criminals, criminally, criminality, criminalize, criminalized, criminalizing, criminalization