In criminal prosecutions, what term refers to allegations made to the police or peace officer charging breaches of criminal law?

• A. Cause of action
• B. Certification
• C. Complaint
• D. Common law

Answer: (C)

The term referring to allegations made to the police or a peace officer charging breaches of criminal law is a complaint. A complaint is a sworn statement that lays out the facts and the criminal statutes the defendant is alleged to have violated, and it initiates the criminal process by providing probable cause for an arrest or for proceeding with charging the defendant. This sits in contrast to a civil “cause of action,” which is about private legal claims in civil court, and to “common law,” which is law developed through judicial decisions rather than a charging document. “Certification” isn’t used as a criminal charging document.