What must all complaints allege?

• A. The exact time of day of the offense
• B. The location of the offense
• C. A date of on or about when the offense occurred
• D. The identity of the defendant

Answer: (C)

Criminal complaints must anchor the charge in a specific timeframe. Stating the offense as occurring “on or about” a date gives a definite window for when the crime happened, which is essential for defining the charge, guiding service and notice to the defendant, and addressing any statute-of-limitations concerns. Exact time of day is usually not required because many offenses don’t hinge on an exact minute, and while location or the defendant’s identity may be included, they are not universally indispensable in the same way that a date is. Therefore, the date of the offense is the necessary element that all complaints must allege.