The term 'accuse formally of a crime' can be summarized by three crossword solutions: INDICT (6 letters), INDICTED (8 letters), and ARRAIGN (7 letters). Indictment is the formal accusation of a crime, usually made by a grand jury. An individual who has been INDICTED is known as an INDICTED person. Arraignment is the formal process of bringing an accused person before a court to answer the charges against them. It is the first step in the criminal justice process.