Indictment
A formal written charge, usually issued by a grand jury, that triggers criminal prosecution in felony cases.
In the US federal system, felony prosecution generally requires an indictment by a grand jury — a panel of citizens that reviews the prosecutor's evidence and decides whether there is probable cause to charge. Once indicted, the defendant may be arrested on a capias warrant or summoned to appear. Indictment does not require the presence or knowledge of the defendant; it can be returned 'in absentia' when the subject has fled. This is how a fugitive can formally become a defendant in a federal case even while abroad, enabling the FBI to seek an Interpol Red Notice. Civil-law systems use equivalents such as 'mise en examen' (France) or 'auto de procesamiento' (Spain).