What is required to indict felony charges in Georgia?

• A. Grand jury indictment
• B. Information filed by district attorney
• C. Probable cause by a judge
• D. A simple complaint by a citizen

Answer: (A)

In Georgia, felonies are charged by a grand jury indictment. The grand jury reviews evidence presented by the prosecutor and decides whether there is probable cause to bring formal charges, issuing an indictment if the threshold is met. This step provides a protective check on prosecutorial power before a serious crime leads to trial.

An information filed by the district attorney is not the typical method for initiating felony charges in Georgia; information documents are used in different contexts and do not replace the grand jury indictment for felonies. A judge’s determination of probable cause at a preliminary hearing occurs, if at all, as a separate step prior to formal charging in some systems, but it does not itself constitute the charging instrument. A simple complaint by a citizen does not carry the authority to initiate a felony prosecution.

So the required method for felony charges is grand jury indictment.