What does “charged by summons” mean?
Being charged by summons means the court sent the person a notice to appear in court on a set date instead of ordering an arrest. The summons comes with a copy of the complaint.
Summons or warrant
When a prosecutor files a criminal complaint in Minnesota, the court issues either a summons or an arrest warrant. The rules favor a summons. A warrant is used only when the person is unlikely to respond, cannot reasonably be located, or needs to be arrested to prevent imminent harm.
What a summons says
A summons tells the defendant to appear at a stated time and place to answer the complaint. It must be accompanied by a copy of the complaint.
If the person does not show up
If a defendant fails to appear in response to a summons, the court must issue a warrant.
What it does not mean
A summons is not a finding of guilt, and neither is a complaint. Both mark the start of a case.
Sources
Checked October 3, 2026. General information, not legal advice.