Legal Translation of Information in French: Simple Data or Acte d’accusation?

⚠️ A Familiar Word… but a Legal Trap in Criminal Law

The word information looks harmless: in both English and French everyday usage, it refers to data, knowledge, or neutral content.

👉 But in common law criminal procedure, information has a very different meaning.

It designates a formal charging document, drafted by a prosecutor, to initiate proceedings without a grand jury. It is thus the equivalent of an acte introductif d’instance pénale or acte d’accusation du procureur, often used for less serious offences.

⚖️ In Criminal Law: Prosecutor’s Formal Accusation

Unlike the indictment, which requires a grand jury, the information is filed directly by the prosecution. It marks the official start of criminal proceedings.

Examples

• The defendant was charged by information
  → Le prévenu a été inculpé par acte d’accusation du procureur

• An information was filed in lieu of an indictment
  → Un acte d’accusation a été déposé au lieu d’une mise en accusation par grand jury

• The court reviewed the information before arraignment
  → Le tribunal a examiné l’acte d’accusation avant la mise en accusation formelle

👉 Translating information here as renseignement or donnée would be a serious mistranslation.

🧾 Key Distinction to Remember

In common law systems:

• Indictment = acte d’accusation by a grand jury (serious crimes)

• Information = acte d’accusation by the prosecutor, without a grand jury (less serious offences)

✅ In Summary

• In criminal law, information = formal prosecutorial charging document (acte d’accusation officiel).

• It allows prosecution without grand jury involvement.

• Must not be confused with the everyday sense of “information” (renseignement, donnée).

📌 TransLex Guidance

Before translating information, ask yourself:

• Is the text drafted by a prosecutor to initiate proceedings?

• Is the context criminal law in a common law system?

• Is it an official charging document, not neutral data?

👉 In law, information can mean acte d’accusation, not neutral data.
👉 A subtle but crucial false friend in legal translation.