Criminal procedure
Information
An information is a charging document filed by the prosecutor without a grand jury, used when the defendant waives indictment or the offense is a misdemeanor.
Seeing one usually means a deal. A defendant who has agreed to plead guilty often waives indictment so the case can be charged quickly and precisely as negotiated, which is why an information and a plea agreement frequently appear on the docket the same week.
Felonies may be charged this way only with the defendant's written waiver of the right to a grand jury, given in open court. Misdemeanors need no waiver.
It is also the fastest signal that someone is cooperating. An information charging a single conspiracy count against one participant in a larger scheme frequently precedes charges against the people that person is helping the government reach.
How it appears on a docket
INFORMATION filed as to Priya N. Shah (2) charging one count of conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 371. Waiver of Indictment filed.
Governing rule
Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b)
Related terms
- Indictment — An indictment is the formal written accusation, voted by a grand jury, that charges someone with a federal crime and starts the prosecution.
- Plea Agreement — A plea agreement is a written deal in which the defendant pleads guilty in exchange for concessions from the prosecutor, such as dropped counts or a sentencing recommendation.
More on criminal procedure
See this term in a real case
Search federal court records and read the filings where information actually shows up. New to federal dockets? Start with how to find a federal case.