i.e. before or after the laying of an information) and charge. In the United States, prosecutions are begun by laying an information, by making a complaint or by preferring an indictment. In France, they begin with a dénonciation or a plainte; in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, with a denuncia or a querella. In France, the appearance of the accused in court is secured, in the case of a délit or a contravention, by an avertissement, which is informal, or a citation directe, and in the case of a crime by a mandat d'amener or a mandat d'arrêt. Appeals are begun in England by a notice of appeal, in France by a déclaration d'appel. 4. Suspect, accused» defendant, offender: use of these terms in England A person is a suspect until he is charged or until an information is laid against him, whichever is the earlier. He is an accused once he has been charged or an information has been laid against him, whichever is the earlier. He is not a defendant until an information has been laid against him. He is not an offender until he has been convicted. The terms suspect and offender are nevertheless used loosely to mean a defendant. A defendant is usually referred to as the accused throughout court proceedings. Criminal is not a technical term when used as a noun. The above terminology can be used in regard to any country; where prosecutions can be commenced by a means other than an information, e.g. by a complaint, read "information" in the preceding paragraph as meaning any such alternative method. In England, a defendant remains a defendant after he has been committed for trial. This is not so in France, where until that point (during the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing legal terminology and procedures in different countries, specifically in relation to criminal law. The language used is formal and technical, indicating a focus on legal concepts and processes. The text does not mention specific economic, environmental, or scientific issues, but rather provides an overview of the legal framework and terminology used in different countries.

**Category**
Law, Education