One of the most common means of prosecution is an information. The information should be a clear and concise statement of the crime charged. The information should contain the essential facts necessary for the state to prove the crime charged. The essential facts constituting an offense are venue, jurisdiction, identity of the accused, the time and date of the offense and the elements of the offense. Venue is the place where the crime happened.
Jurisdiction is the authority of the court over the individual.
An information can contain more then one charge. An information can also charge more than one person with the commission of the enumerated crimes. Once the information or indictment has been announced in court, the defendant must either acknowledge guilt or contest the charges and enter a plea of not guilty. In some jurisdictions, a defendant can plead no contest. A no contest plea essentially admits the facts alleged in the information and is a plea of convenience in that it terminates the prosecution.