What term describes the initial filing charging a crime before the court, based on an affidavit?

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The initial filing charging a crime before the court based on an affidavit is a complaint. A complaint is a sworn statement, often from a police officer, that lays out the facts and probable cause for the charges and starts formal proceedings, sometimes leading to an arrest warrant or summons. Indictment involves a grand jury deciding to charge, not just an affidavit-based filing. Information is a prosecutor’s formal charge used in many jurisdictions, typically after review of evidence; it can be supported by affidavits but is a different procedure from the affidavit-based filing at issue. A warrant is merely a court order for arrest or search, not a charging document.