Term | Definition |
Acquittal | In criminal Law, a finding of not guilty |
Arraignment | The hearing at which the accused is brought before the court to plead to the criminal charge in the indictment |
Arrest | The actual restraint of a person for submission to custody |
Bail | Security given for the release of a jailed person that guarantees his or her attendance at all required court appearances |
Bill of Particular | A motion by a criminal defendant that request details concerning the offense charged |
Capital cases | Felony case punishable by death |
change of venue | Moving a trial to a new location |
Collateral attack | collateral attack refers to when a separate and new lawsuit is filed to challenge some aspect of an earlier and separate case when an obvious injustice or unconstitutional treatment occurred in the earlier case |
Complaint | The original pleading by which an action is filed in court |
Crime | An act in violation of the penal laws of a state or the United States and for which a specific punishment is prescribed |
Felony | any offense punishable by death or by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year |
Grand Jury | a jury, normally of twenty-three jurors, selected to examine the validity of an accusation before trial. |
Indictment | A written accusation issued by a grand jury against a defendant |
Misdemeanor | A criminal offense lesser than a felony and punishable by for fine or imprisonment for less than one year |
No Bill | the result returned by the grand jury when there is no probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed |
Probation | Sentence imposed for commission of crime in which a convicted criminal is released into the community under the supervision of a probation officer in lieu of incarceration |
Substantive criminal law | Action in litigation which disposes of controversy without trial, when there is no genuine of material fact |
Surety | A person or entity who posts bond for another |
True Bill | The document returned by a grand jury if probable cause exist to believe a crime has been committed |
Undertaking | |
Warrant | A warrant issued by a judge when the judge finds that probable cause exist to believe the named individual has committed a criminal offense. |