What does the term "charging document" refer to in legal proceedings?

The term "charging document" specifically refers to any formal written statement that initiates legal proceedings against a defendant. This includes documents like complaints or informations that formally charge an individual with a crime. An arrest warrant or a Uniform Traffic Ticket fits this definition as both serve to formally charge an individual with a specific legal violation, initiating the legal process.

An arrest warrant authorizes law enforcement to take an individual into custody based on probable cause of criminal activity, while a Uniform Traffic Ticket outlines alleged traffic violations. Each serves the purpose of formally documenting the charges against an individual.

On the other hand, the other options do not accurately capture the essence of a charging document. Written evidence or memos from law enforcement do not carry the same legal weight as documents explicitly designed to initiate charges in court. A formal complaint filed by a prosecutor could be considered a type of charging document, but it does not encompass all potential forms of charging documents. Thus, focusing on arrest warrants and traffic tickets highlights specific examples of charging documents used in legal contexts.