K.S.A. » Chapter 22
Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 22-3201 (2026)

Complaint; information or indictment; required contents; amendment; bill of particulars; identification of certain witnesses

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section KS-LEGkslegislature.org JustiaChapter on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

22-3201. Complaint; information or indictment; required contents; amendment; bill of particulars; identification of certain witnesses. (a) Prosecutions in the district court shall be upon complaint, indictment or information.

(b) The complaint, information or indictment shall be a plain and concise written statement of the essential facts constituting the crime charged, which complaint, information or indictment, drawn in the language of the statute, shall be deemed sufficient. The precise time of the commission of an offense need not be stated in the indictment or information; but it is sufficient if shown to have been within the statute of limitations, except where the time is an indispensable ingredient in the offense. An indictment shall be signed by the presiding juror of the grand jury. An information shall be signed by the county attorney, the attorney general or any legally appointed assistant or deputy of either. A complaint shall be signed by some person with knowledge of the facts. Allegations made in one count may be incorporated by reference in another count. The complaint, information or indictment shall state for each count the official or customary citation of the statute, rule and regulation or other provision of law which the defendant is alleged to have violated. Error in the citation or its omission shall be not ground for dismissal of the complaint, information or indictment or for reversal of a conviction if the error or omission did not prejudice the defendant.

(c) When relevant, the complaint, information or indictment shall also allege facts sufficient to constitute a crime or specific crime subcategory in the crime seriousness scale.

(d) The court may strike surplusage from the complaint, information or indictment.

(e) The court may permit a complaint or information to be amended at any time before verdict or finding if no additional or different crime is charged and if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced.

(f) When a complaint, information or indictment charges a crime but fails to specify the particulars of the crime sufficiently to enable the defendant to prepare a defense the court may, on written motion of the defendant, require the prosecuting attorney to furnish the defendant with a bill of particulars. At the trial the state's evidence shall be confined to the particulars of the bill.

(g) Except as otherwise provided, the prosecuting attorney shall endorse the names of all witnesses known to the prosecuting attorney upon the complaint, information and indictment at the time of filing it. Except as otherwise provided, the prosecuting attorney may endorse on it the names of other witnesses that may afterward become known to the prosecuting attorney, at times that the court may by rule or otherwise prescribe. If any witness is to testify and the prosecuting attorney believes the witness who has provided information is in danger of intimidation or retaliation, the prosecuting attorney may delay identifying such informant witness until such informant witness actually testifies but in no event shall identification of a witness be delayed beyond arraignment without further order of the court after hearing and an opportunity of the defendant to be heard.

History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3201; L. 1974, ch. 152, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 163, § 14; L. 1984, ch. 112, § 22; L. 1992, ch. 239, § 258; L. 1996, ch. 126, § 1; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 238 cases (35 in the last 5 years), 1973–2026 · leading case: State v. Dunn, 375 P.3d 332 (Kan. 2016).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Dunn, 375 P.3d 332 (Kan. 2016). · cites it 22× “Since 1970, K.S.A. 22-3201 has set forth the required contents for charging documents and has noted ways in which the charging document may be amended by the court or the State or be augmented after a defense motion for a bill of particulars: "(b) The complaint, information or…”
State v. Brosseit, 423 P.3d 1036 (Kan. 2018). · cites it 32× “K.S.A. 22-3201(g) gives the district court broad discretionary power in allowing the late endorsement of witnesses and prohibits late endorsement only when it will result in actual prejudice in the defendant's ability to defend against the charges.”
State v. Moody, 144 P.3d 612 (Kan. 2006). · cites it 10× “"The State appealed, contending that K.S.A. 22-3201 (setting out the requirements for a complaint, information, or indictment) does not require that the State give a defendant notice of the severity level of the DUI offense being charged.”
State v. Ellmaker, 221 P.3d 1105 (Kan. 2009). · cites it 7× “Nevertheless, Ellmaker contends that because the aggravating factors were not included in the complaint, he was denied notice of the “specific crime subcategory in the crime seriousness scale” under K.”
State v. Donaldson, 112 P.3d 99 (Kan. 2005). · cites it 10× “21-3701(a) in the complaint and instruction. This appears to have been inadvertent and unnoticed by the trial court or either counsel below.”
Ferguson v. State, 78 P.3d 40 (Kan. 2003). · cites it 6× “] “The constitutional protections referred to are implemented by the requirements of K.S.A. 22-3201. The complaint, information, or indictment shall be a plain and concise written statement of the essential facts constituting the crime charged and, when drawn in the language of…”
State v. Fitzgerald, 423 P.3d 497 (Kan. 2018). · cites it 6× “We specifically noted that "[p]rosecutions in this state are based on the charging document, which may be a complaint, indictment, or information," citing K.S.A. 22-3201(a). 303 Kan. at 6 . Today the statute we referenced in Laborde remains in effect, and the maxim it recites…”
State v. Nunn, 768 P.2d 268 (Kan. 1989). · cites it 5× “K.S.A. 1987 Supp. 22-3201(2) provides that the information shall be a written statement.”
State v. Thompkins, 952 P.2d 1332 (Kan. 1998). · cites it 10× “" Presumably the judge was referring to K.S.A. 22-3201(e), which provides that the court may permit a complaint or information to be amended at any time before verdict or finding if no additional or different crime is charged and if substantial rights of the defendant are not…”
State v. Woods, 825 P.2d 514 (Kan. 1992). · cites it 8× ““K.S.A. 1978 Supp. 22-3201 provides in pertinent part: ‘(4) The court may permit a complaint or information to be amended at any time before verdict or finding if no additional or different crime is charged and if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced.”
State v. Keys, 510 P.3d 706 (Kan. 2022). · cites it 2× “K.S.A. 22-3201(a) provides: "Prosecutions in the district court shall be upon complaint, 11 indictment or information.”
State v. Rojas-Marceleno, 285 P.3d 361 (Kan. 2012). · cites it 3× “A charging document is generally sufficient if *534 it is “drawn in the language of the statute,” and “[t]he precise time of the commission of an offense need not be stated in the indictment or information; but it is sufficient if shown to have been within the statute of…”
Show all 238 citing cases →
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(2) — 25 cases
State v. Woodman, 735 P.2d 1102 (Kan. Ct. App. 1987).
State v. Nunn, 768 P.2d 268 (Kan. 1989). “K.S.A. 1987 Supp. 22-3201(2) provides that the information shall be a written statement.”
State v. Bird, 708 P.2d 946 (Kan. 1985).
State v. Tyler, 840 P.2d 413 (Kan. 1992).
State v. Valdiviezo-Martinez, 486 P.3d 1256 (Kan. 2021).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(3) — 1 case
State v. Vakas, 744 P.2d 812 (Kan. 1987).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(4) — 30 cases
State v. Woods, 825 P.2d 514 (Kan. 1992). ““K.S.A. 1978 Supp. 22-3201 provides in pertinent part: ‘(4) The court may permit a complaint or information to be amended at any time before verdict or finding if no additional or different crime is charged and if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced.”
State v. Nunn, 768 P.2d 268 (Kan. 1989). “K.S.A. 1987 Supp. 22-3201(2) provides that the information shall be a written statement.”
Ferguson v. State, 78 P.3d 40 (Kan. 2003). “] “The constitutional protections referred to are implemented by the requirements of K.S.A. 22-3201. The complaint, information, or indictment shall be a plain and concise written statement of the essential facts constituting the crime charged and, when drawn in the language of…”
State v. Van Cleave, 716 P.2d 580 (Kan. 1986).
State v. Barncord, 726 P.2d 1322 (Kan. 1986).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(5) — 10 cases
Ferguson v. State, 78 P.3d 40 (Kan. 2003). “] “The constitutional protections referred to are implemented by the requirements of K.S.A. 22-3201. The complaint, information, or indictment shall be a plain and concise written statement of the essential facts constituting the crime charged and, when drawn in the language of…”
State v. Jones, 748 P.2d 839 (Kan. 1988).
State v. Bird, 708 P.2d 946 (Kan. 1985).
State v. Wilson, 795 P.2d 336 (Kan. 1990).
State v. Kee, 711 P.2d 746 (Kan. 1985).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(6) — 17 cases
State v. Hunter, 740 P.2d 559 (Kan. 1987).
State v. Costa, 613 P.2d 1359 (Kan. 1980).
State v. Prince, 605 P.2d 563 (Kan. 1980).
State v. McNaught, 713 P.2d 457 (Kan. 1986).
State v. Bright, 623 P.2d 917 (Kan. 1981).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(a) — 10 cases
State v. Dunn, 375 P.3d 332 (Kan. 2016). “Since 1970, K.S.A. 22-3201 has set forth the required contents for charging documents and has noted ways in which the charging document may be amended by the court or the State or be augmented after a defense motion for a bill of particulars: "(b) The complaint, information or…”
State v. Fitzgerald, 423 P.3d 497 (Kan. 2018). “We specifically noted that "[p]rosecutions in this state are based on the charging document, which may be a complaint, indictment, or information," citing K.S.A. 22-3201(a). 303 Kan. at 6 . Today the statute we referenced in Laborde remains in effect, and the maxim it recites…”
State v. Keys, 510 P.3d 706 (Kan. 2022). “K.S.A. 22-3201(a) provides: "Prosecutions in the district court shall be upon complaint, 11 indictment or information.”
State v. Laborde, 360 P.3d 1080 (Kan. 2015).
State v. Jordan, 537 P.3d 443 (Kan. 2023).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(a)(2) — 1 case
State v. Dighera, 916 P.2d 68 (Kan. Ct. App. 1996).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(b) — 54 cases
State v. Dunn, 375 P.3d 332 (Kan. 2016). “Since 1970, K.S.A. 22-3201 has set forth the required contents for charging documents and has noted ways in which the charging document may be amended by the court or the State or be augmented after a defense motion for a bill of particulars: "(b) The complaint, information or…”
State v. Fitzgerald, 423 P.3d 497 (Kan. 2018). “We specifically noted that "[p]rosecutions in this state are based on the charging document, which may be a complaint, indictment, or information," citing K.S.A. 22-3201(a). 303 Kan. at 6 . Today the statute we referenced in Laborde remains in effect, and the maxim it recites…”
State v. Rojas-Marceleno, 285 P.3d 361 (Kan. 2012). “A charging document is generally sufficient if *534 it is “drawn in the language of the statute,” and “[t]he precise time of the commission of an offense need not be stated in the indictment or information; but it is sufficient if shown to have been within the statute of…”
State v. Scott, 183 P.3d 801 (Kan. 2008).
State v. Robinson, 363 P.3d 875 (Kan. 2015).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(b)(c)(e)(f) — 1 case
State v. Ross, 511 P.3d 290 (Kan. 2022).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(c) — 7 cases
State v. Ellmaker, 221 P.3d 1105 (Kan. 2009). “Nevertheless, Ellmaker contends that because the aggravating factors were not included in the complaint, he was denied notice of the “specific crime subcategory in the crime seriousness scale” under K.”
State v. Moody, 144 P.3d 612 (Kan. 2006). “"The State appealed, contending that K.S.A. 22-3201 (setting out the requirements for a complaint, information, or indictment) does not require that the State give a defendant notice of the severity level of the DUI offense being charged.”
State v. Gracey, 200 P.3d 1275 (Kan. 2009).
State v. Moody, 120 P.3d 1156 (Kan. Ct. App. 2005).
State v. Masterson, 929 P.2d 127 (Kan. 1996).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(d) — 4 cases
State v. Kendall, 331 P.3d 763 (Kan. 2014).
State v. Mulloy (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Ricke (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Meeks (Kan. Ct. App. 2025).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(e) — 46 cases
State v. Dunn, 375 P.3d 332 (Kan. 2016). “Since 1970, K.S.A. 22-3201 has set forth the required contents for charging documents and has noted ways in which the charging document may be amended by the court or the State or be augmented after a defense motion for a bill of particulars: "(b) The complaint, information or…”
State v. Thompkins, 952 P.2d 1332 (Kan. 1998). “" Presumably the judge was referring to K.S.A. 22-3201(e), which provides that the court may permit a complaint or information to be amended at any time before verdict or finding if no additional or different crime is charged and if substantial rights of the defendant are not…”
State v. Martis, 83 P.3d 1216 (Kan. 2004).
State v. Holman, 284 P.3d 251 (Kan. 2012).
State v. Dupree, 373 P.3d 811 (Kan. 2016).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(f) — 18 cases
State v. Dunn, 375 P.3d 332 (Kan. 2016). “Since 1970, K.S.A. 22-3201 has set forth the required contents for charging documents and has noted ways in which the charging document may be amended by the court or the State or be augmented after a defense motion for a bill of particulars: "(b) The complaint, information or…”
State v. Rojas-Marceleno, 285 P.3d 361 (Kan. 2012). “A charging document is generally sufficient if *534 it is “drawn in the language of the statute,” and “[t]he precise time of the commission of an offense need not be stated in the indictment or information; but it is sufficient if shown to have been within the statute of…”
State v. Wright, 911 P.2d 166 (Kan. 1996).
State v. Spear, 304 P.3d 1246 (Kan. 2013).
State v. Webber, 918 P.2d 609 (Kan. 1996).
— K.S.A. § 22-3201(g) — 16 cases
State v. Brosseit, 423 P.3d 1036 (Kan. 2018). “K.S.A. 22-3201(g) gives the district court broad discretionary power in allowing the late endorsement of witnesses and prohibits late endorsement only when it will result in actual prejudice in the defendant's ability to defend against the charges.”
State v. Donaldson, 112 P.3d 99 (Kan. 2005). “21-3701(a) in the complaint and instruction. This appears to have been inadvertent and unnoticed by the trial court or either counsel below.”
State v. Snow, 144 P.3d 729 (Kan. 2006).
State v. Carr, 331 P.3d 544 (Kan. 2014).
State v. Bloom, 44 P.3d 305 (Kan. 2002).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.