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Indictment Vs. Conviction: What Is The Difference
posted on 1/28/25

A “conviction” is different from an “indictment.” You can obtain the best possible legal outcome by going over the difference between these two terms and speaking with an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney.

What Is An Indictment?

The definition of an “indictment” is as follows: a formal accusation of a crime that is issued by a grand jury after they look at evidence presented to them by the prosecution.

Just as an example, if you are a young woman who was charged with armed robbery, and the prosecution presents a grand jury with evidence suggesting you were involved, this grand jury may choose to issue an indictment.

If an indictment is issued, this means that a grand jury believes there is enough evidence to suggest that you committed a crime and that you may be, therefore, responsible for that particular crime.

Right after an indictment is issued, you will be charged with a crime. This is not a conviction, although it can become one depending on your next steps.

To ensure that you obtain the best legal outcome, you – or your family members – should invest in a good attorney. You or your family member can protect their innocence by doing so.

What Is A Conviction?

A “conviction” is a formal finding of guilt in response to a criminal charge. Right before someone can be convicted of a crime, they must go through a trial or, alternatively, accept a plea agreement.

The party responsible for a conviction is as follows: a judge or, if the case goes to trial, a jury. Both of these parties have the ability to convict and, depending on your case, that is who will give you your verdict.

Right after someone is convicted of a crime, they must have been found guilty, beyond reasonable doubt, of that crime. This means that they will, as per this determination, be subject to the punishments defined by law.

A good example of the above is as follows: if our hypothetical young woman is convicted of armed robbery by a jury of her peers, she will be convicted and then subject to a prison sentence based on the laws for this crime.

If you have been indicted for a crime, you do not want a conviction. For you to avoid a conviction, it is of the utmost importance that you invest in an attorney who can help you obtain the best possible outcome.

When Do You Need An Attorney?

You need an attorney right after you have been indicted for a crime. Or, for that matter, be made aware of any criminal charges against you.

Returning to our example, if a young woman becomes aware that she has been charged with armed robbery, she must contact an attorney immediately. She should avoid speaking with the police until that attorney is with her.

Outside of being indicted/charged with a crime, if you have been told that you are a suspect, a person of interest – or believe that you may be a suspect – speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

If you or a close family member speak with an attorney as soon as you can, you will have an easier time obtaining the best possible legal outcome while avoiding many of the problems that can arise during this process.

Get Qualified Legal Help Today

If you need representation for a crime, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.

Our team has helped thousands of people who have been charged with crimes in Illinois. When we take cases, we do so to win. This means we take cases to trial. We don’t arrange plea bargains unless it is in the best interest of our clients. As proactive lawyers, we fight aggressively and support our clients throughout their entire case up to and including appeals. Protecting your life and freedom is always the goal, and with our decades of experience practicing law, we know how to get results. This is why we are regularly invited to appear as a legal contributor on popular radio and news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox NEWS.

When you need an attorney, experience matters.

Speak with a criminal defense attorney today to learn how our experience can help you get the results you need.