What is an Indictment?

The legal process of bringing criminal charges may involve an Indictment in North Carolina. Pursuant to Chapter 15A, the North Carolina Criminal Procedure Act, pleadings originally brought in Superior Court must be by way of Bill of Indictment, unless waived or handled in an alternate fashion such as a Bill of Information.

“The manner of formally advising people of the charges against them, ensuring compliance with 6^th Amendment protections associated with a fair trial, can be complicated. Defense lawyers take great pains to review the process, including indictments, in preparing a defense” - Danny Glover, Criminal Defense Attorney

Due Process and Equal Protection of the Law are more than mere, technical legal jargon. Our system of justice demands everyone is treated the same and that the criminal laws are applied equally. We have answers to your legal issues such as:

• What is an Indictment?
• What does Indicted Mean?
• Can Indictments be Amended?

The U.S. Constitution and North Carolina Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, provide certain basic protections to people accused of violating the law. Each state, in enforcing the criminal laws, is subject to the U.S Constitution under the 14^th Amendment and must further comply with all statutory provisions regarding criminal pleadings.

States may also provide protections in addition to the basic precepts of Constitutional Rights. Put simply, the General Assembly cannot remove Constitutional Protections; but, they may add to those legal rights or otherwise provide clarity and instruction on their proper application.

§ 15A-923 applies to felony and misdemeanor cases initiated in Superior Court. If a Bill of Indictment is properly waived, pleadings may take the form of the Bill of Information. Otherwise, the statute mandates prosecution must be handled through a bill of indictment.

Indictments include important information about the charges, the defendant, what allegedly took place, and what criminal laws were violated, including:

• Identification of the Accused, name of the Defendant
• The offense or offenses charged
• The jurisdiction of the criminal charges, the County in NC
• The existence of Aggravating Factors
• The date or dates of offenses
• Identification of the Victim

Defense lawyers are particularly interested in reviewing the, “plain and concise” statement of the factual basis for the charges and the specific statute alleged to have been violated under Chapter 14: Criminal Laws and/or Common Law offenses.

“Defense lawyers do well to confirm compliance with the procedural aspects of criminal charges. At our law firm, we want to review the pleadings, including all the paperwork you may have received upon being released from jail” - Danny Glover, Criminal Defense Lawyer

Violations of the Criminal Procedure Act may be brought at any time. Appellate Courts in North Carolina review assertions that a Bill of Indictment is deficient on its face De Novo and therefore is not subject to the Abuse of Discretion standard.

An October 2018 opinion by North Carolina Court of Appeals called North Carolina v. Hill helps explain errors in Bills of Indictment.

Indictments are not required to be perfect. Technical violations in form and errors in wording often survive appellate scrutiny. Put simply, substantial compliance with the law, requiring the pleading to be “read as a whole” is often acceptable in North Carolina.

The meaning of the words in an indictment is said to be “clearly apparent” if people of “common understanding” can tell what was meant or intended by the Bill of Indictment. One of the primary and most important aspects of charging documents, including Indictments and a Bill of Information, is to advise the accused of the criminal charges against her or him.

Under N.C.G.S. § 15A-923(e), a Bill of Indictment is not allowed to be amended if such amendment substantially changes or alters the criminal charges described within the indictment.

Courts are required to consider the purposes the indictment/pleading laws in North Carolina, the primary one is the 6^th Amendment Right and protection allowing the Defendant to prepare for trial. If the State seeks to amend an indictment in such as way as it would substantially alter the nature of the criminal charges, the Court would not allow the amendment.

If you have questions about criminal charges in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Danny Glover is available for consultation and possible legal representation. Danny Glover Law Firm provides a Free Consultation for criminal charges.

Everything you reveal to our defense team is held strictly confidential.

You may reach Danny Glover directly at: danny@dannygloverlawfirm.com