Bill of Indictment

Bill of Indictment 

a procedural document that sets forth the final decision of the investigator (person conducting an inquiry) to formulate an accusation against persons being brought to trial and to submit the case to the procurator for referral to the court in whose jurisdiction the case lies. In the USSR the bill of indictment is compiled on the basis of materials from the completed investigation (inquiry) and consists of a descriptive part and a resolutory part. The descriptive part contains such information as a description of the crime, the place and time it occurred, the methods and motives of the criminals, the consequences, the role of each participant in the crime, information about the victim, and the circumstances that influence the degree and nature of responsibility. An analysis of the evidence is also given, with the reasons why certain evidence is considered invalid. The resolutory part names the accused and formulates the accusation, indicating the appropriate article or articles of criminal law. Appended to the bill of indictment is a list of persons to be called into court, as well as information on the period of investigation (inquiry), measures of restraint, real evidence, the civil suit, measures taken to secure the civil suit, and court costs. The procurator may confirm the bill of indictment and refer the case to a court, return the case for further investigation, or terminate the case; he also has the right to change the bill of indictment.