What is charge sheet? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of charge sheet

charge sheetnoun
tờ cáo trạng
/ˈtʃɑːdʒ ʃiːt//ˈtʃɑːrdʒ ʃiːt/

Where does the word charge sheet come from?

The term "charge sheet" originated from the legal system in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century. In the past, when someone was arrested, a short document called a "bail book" was used to record the reasons for the arrest and the charges against the accused. This document was later passed to the accused as proof of their arrest and the offenses they were accused of. As the legal system evolved, the bail book was replaced by a more comprehensive document called a "charge sheet." This document is prepared by the policing agency that makes the arrest and outlines the specific offenses for which the accused is being charged. The charge sheet includes details such as the name of the accused, the date and location of the arrest, the nature of the offenses committed, and any relevant evidence. It serves as the formal record of the charges against the accused and can be presented in court during the trial. Although the term "charge sheet" is mainly used in common law jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India, some civil law jurisdictions also use similar documents with different names, such as "police report" in Singapore and "ex officio bill" in Hong Kong. In sum, the charge sheet evolved as a legal document used to outline the specific offenses committed by an accused during an arrest, replacing the previous bail book used as proof of arrest.

Example of vocabulary charge sheetnamespace

The suspect was presented with a detailed charge sheet in the court of law, outlining the criminal charges against him.
The police have prepared a strong charge sheet against the accused, compiling substantial evidence collected during the investigation.
The specific details of the crime were laid out clearly in the charge sheet, making it almost impossible for the accused to plead not guilty.
The prosecutor skillfully presented the evidence in the charge sheet, leaving no scope for doubt or confusion in the minds of the judge and jury.
The charge sheet accused the accused of multiple offenses, including burglary, theft, and damage to property.