Quote:
Originally Posted by Winetalk
I don't think 2257 prosecution falls under "civil", it could be "criminal",
I honestly don't know. Unlike the rest of the GFY, I am not a lawyer, don't play one on TV and very rarely stay at Holiday Inn express.
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Because you, like I, weren't sure and you may want to know...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_procedure
In a criminal case, the government generally brings charges in one of two ways: either by accusing a suspect directly in a "bill of information" or other similar document, or by bringing evidence before a grand jury to allow that body to determine whether the case should proceed. If there is, then the defendant is indicted. In the federal system, a case must be brought before a grand jury for indictment if it is to proceed; some states, however, do not require indictment.
Once charges have been brought, the case is then brought before a petit jury, or is tried by a judge if the defense requests it.