Can be justified in its use as a form of showing strong disapproval by the United States Legal system. The indictment has been in use since the 14th century, and is generally a formal statement in writing about a person who is thought to be guilty of some crime. The indictment accuses the person with this crime. The prosecuting attorney in the trial then uses the indictment to persuade the jury charge the person on trial for an offense. If used before a Grand Jury, the indictment states that enough evidence has been gathered in order to give an explanation for having a trial as well as to accuse them of the offense. One or more people can be named in an indictment.