Indictment kept confidential until defendant's arrest?

Indictment kept confidential until defendant's arrest?

• A. Grand Jury
• B. Infraction
• C. Sealed Indictment
• D. No Bill

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how indictments are kept secret to protect the ongoing investigation. A sealed indictment is issued by the grand jury and then kept under seal, meaning it isn’t made public, until the defendant is arrested or brought before the court. This secrecy helps prevent tipping off the target, reduces the risk of flight, and protects witnesses and investigative integrity. Once the arrest or arraignment occurs, the seal is typically lifted and the charges become public. The other options don’t fit this situation. A grand jury is the body that decides whether to indict, and while its proceedings are generally secret, the term doesn’t describe a document kept confidential until arrest. An infraction refers to a minor offense, not an indictment. A no bill is the outcome when the grand jury declines to indict, which is the opposite of an indictment being sealed and pursued.

The key idea here is how indictments are kept secret to protect the ongoing investigation. A sealed indictment is issued by the grand jury and then kept under seal, meaning it isn’t made public, until the defendant is arrested or brought before the court. This secrecy helps prevent tipping off the target, reduces the risk of flight, and protects witnesses and investigative integrity. Once the arrest or arraignment occurs, the seal is typically lifted and the charges become public.

The other options don’t fit this situation. A grand jury is the body that decides whether to indict, and while its proceedings are generally secret, the term doesn’t describe a document kept confidential until arrest. An infraction refers to a minor offense, not an indictment. A no bill is the outcome when the grand jury declines to indict, which is the opposite of an indictment being sealed and pursued.