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chapter 16
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Complaint | A formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought |
| Summons | A notice directing someone to appear in court to answer a complaint or a charge |
| Discovery | Process by which attorneys have opportunity to check facts and gather evidence |
| settlement | In a legal case, the amount of money the defendant agrees to pay the plaintiff |
| Prosecution | Party who starts the legal proceedings against another party for a violation of the law |
| Crime | An act that breaks a law and causes harm to people or society in general |
| Penal code | A state's written criminal laws |
| Parole | To grant a prisoner an early release from prison, with certain restrictions |
| Mandatory sentencing | Punishment that judges must impose according to what the law directs |
| Arraignment | A hearing in which a suspect is charged and pleads guilty or not guilty |
| Testimony | the statement a witness makes under oath |
| Cross-examine | To question a witness at a trial or a hearing to check or discredit the testimony |
| Acquittal | A vote of not guilty |
| Hung jury | A jury that cannot agree on a verdict |
| Juvenile | A person not yet legally an adult |
| Juvenile Delinquents | A child or teenager who commits a serious crime or repeatedly breaks the law |
| Rehabilitate | To correct a person's behavior |