Who may subscribe a complaint in a criminal case?

• A. The offended party, any peace officer, or other peace officer charged with enforcement of the law violated.
• B. The prosecutor only.
• C. The judge only.
• D. The clerk of court only.

Answer: (A)

In criminal procedure, a complaint must be sworn to by someone who has knowledge of the facts and is properly authorized to sign under oath. The rule allows the offended party, any peace officer, or another officer charged with enforcement of the law violated to subscribe the complaint. This means they sign the document under oath, affirming the facts that constitute the offense. This provision exists to ensure a sworn basis to start the case, and it accommodates situations where the victim cannot personally file or where law enforcement is the initiator of the action. The prosecutor handles the information stage later, but the initial sworn document—the complaint—may be subscribed by the offended party or by a qualified officer.