Criminal charges are formal accusations of criminal conduct made by a governmental authority against a person or entity. Criminal charges are usually filed or initiated by a city, county, state, or the federal government, acting through a public prosecutor—also known as a municipal prosecutor, county attorney, district attorney, state attorney general, or United States Attorney (for federal crimes). Criminal charges range from low-level misdemeanors such as traffic tickets to first degree felonies such as capital murder.

The charging document in which the specific crime(s) alleged to have been committed are specified may be referred to as (1) a complaint; (2) an information; (3) an indictment; (4) a citation; or (5) a traffic ticket.

In Illinois, criminal charges are formal allegations made by a government authority accusing an individual or entity of engaging in criminal conduct. These charges can be initiated by various levels of government, including city, county, and state authorities, as well as the federal government for federal offenses. The initiation of charges is typically the responsibility of a public prosecutor, such as a city or municipal prosecutor, county attorney, state's attorney, or a U.S. Attorney in the case of federal crimes. The severity of criminal charges in Illinois can range from minor misdemeanors, like traffic violations, to serious felonies, including capital murder. The specific crimes that an individual is accused of are detailed in a charging document, which may take the form of a complaint, an information, an indictment, a citation, or a traffic ticket, depending on the nature of the offense and the procedures of the jurisdiction involved.