{"id":27011,"date":"2025-09-14T08:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T15:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rideoutlaw.com\/?p=27011"},"modified":"2025-09-12T15:20:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T22:20:44","slug":"indicted-vs-charged-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rideoutlaw.com\/es\/indicted-vs-charged-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does “Indicated” Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Understanding Indicted vs. Charged in Arizona Criminal Cases<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When you’re facing criminal allegations, understanding the language used by attorneys, police, and the courts is crucial. One common point of confusion among Arizona clients is the difference between being \u201cindicated,\u201d \u201cindicted,\u201d<\/strong> and \u201ccharged.\u201d<\/strong> These words may sound similar, but in legal terms, they carry very different meanings. Here’s what you need to know if you’re under investigation or have been contacted by law enforcement in Scottsdale or the surrounding Phoenix metro area<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndicated\u201d Isn\u2019t a Legal Term in Arizona Criminal Law<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s address the word \u201cindicated<\/strong>.\u201d This is often a misspelling or mishearing<\/strong> of the word \u201cindicted.\u201d<\/strong> Many people mistakenly believe they were \u201cindicated,\u201d when in fact, they mean \u201cindicted.\u201d The word \u201cindicated\u201d does not have any standing in Arizona criminal law. You won\u2019t find it in court documents or official charges.<\/p>\n

That said, in the context of juvenile dependency cases<\/strong>\u2014such as those involving CPS or DCS\u2014\u201cindicated\u201d may occasionally refer to a finding of abuse or neglect by an agency, not a court. But if you\u2019re involved in a criminal case<\/strong>, \u201cindicated\u201d is not the term in play.<\/p>\n

What Does It Mean to Be Indicted?<\/strong><\/p>\n

An indictment<\/strong> is a formal accusation that you committed a crime, and it comes from a grand jury<\/strong>\u2014not a prosecutor directly. In Arizona, grand juries are used primarily for serious felonies<\/strong>, such as drug trafficking, homicide, white-collar crimes, or complex conspiracy charges.<\/p>\n

During the grand jury process, prosecutors present evidence to a panel of citizens. The accused is often not present<\/strong> and may not even know the hearing is taking place. If the grand jury finds probable cause<\/strong>, they vote to indict, and a criminal case formally begins.<\/p>\n

Being indicted<\/strong> is serious. It means the state believes it has enough evidence to take your case to trial, and you could be facing significant prison time if convicted. At this stage, you\u2019ll be served with a summons or warrant and required to appear in court.<\/p>\n

What Does It Mean to Be Charged?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being charged<\/strong> means that the prosecutor\u2014usually a city, county, or state attorney\u2014has filed formal criminal allegations against you in court. Unlike indictments, charges are typically filed without a grand jury<\/strong>, especially in less severe cases like misdemeanors or lower-level felonies.<\/p>\n

For example, if you’re arrested for DUI in Scottsdale<\/strong>, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office or Scottsdale City Prosecutor may file charges directly<\/strong> after reviewing the police report. You\u2019ll then be required to appear in court and respond to those charges.<\/p>\n

So, while every person who is indicted is also charged, not everyone who is charged has been indicted<\/strong>. Indictments are reserved for specific circumstances and types of crimes.<\/p>\n

Charged vs. Indicted \u2014 What\u2019s the Difference?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The key difference is how the process begins<\/strong>:<\/p>\n