Indiana legal term
criminal action in Indiana Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Indiana legislative session
In Indiana criminal law, “criminal action” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Indiana criminal code.
What does “criminal action” mean in Indiana criminal law?
"criminal action" means: (1) an action to prosecute a misdemeanor or a felony; (2) a criminal appeal or a postconviction proceeding; or (3) a document, such as a probable cause affidavit: (A) prepared by a law enforcement officer; and (B) submitted to a judicial officer; as part of an investigation into the possible commission of a misdemeanor or felony, even if the investigation does not result in a prosecution. (Ind. Code § 35-32-4-1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.