The U.S. Department of Justice has wrapped up its investigation into Apple's backdated stock options practices and will not be filing charges against CEO Steve Jobs, current executives, former executives, or the company. Word that the probe has concluded came from attorneys representing subjects of the investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The investigation stemmed from Apple's public disclosure in 2006 that some stock option grants between 1997 and 2001 had been improperly handled. The company contracted an independent investigation into the backdated stock incidents, and that team ultimately cleared Mr. Jobs of any wrong doing.

Both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice later began their own investigations into the backdated stock grant incidents.

While the DOJ investigation outcome is good news for everyone involved in the government probe, former general counsel Nancy Heinen is still facing civil cases from the SEC. Several current and former executives, including Mr, Jobs, are also facing potential court dates relating to private lawsuits, too.

The DOJ decision to not file any charges in its investigation clears the way for the company to finally start the process of leaving the incidents in its past, although it still has to deal with the headaches that come with the private law suits, and those could drag on for years.