| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Damages | Money awarded to a person by court because of a loss they have suffered. |
| Defendant | The person against whom an action is brought. |
| Delinquent | 1. Person who is reckless and who breaks the law. 2. Overdue and unpaid as in a delinquent bill. |
| District Attorney | The officer who represents the state in prosecuting criminal cases in court. |
| Dismissal | A decision by a judge to stop a trial without determining guilt or innocence. |
| Disposition | Any decision made by the court. (Conviction, Acquittal, dismissal, etc.) |
| Docket | The court calendar. |
| Double Jeopardy | Trying a person again for a crime which the person has already found not guilty. *Prohibited by the Constitution. |
| Due Process | The idea that every person accused of a crime is entitled to a fair trail. *Fifth Amendment |
| Embezzlement | Fraudulent appropriation of another's property or money. |
| Eviction | The legal procedure of taking land or housing. |
| Evidence | Proof submitted by a party in support of their claims or defense. |
| Extradition | The surrender of one state to another of a person accused of an offense outside its territory. |
| Felony | A major crime. |
| Fraud | Misrepresentations intended to make someone give up something of value. |
| Forgery | To fraudulently make or alter a written document. |
| Gag Order | An order made by a judge which forbids publicity about a case. Proceedings are not reported outside the courtroom. |
| Garnishment | A judgment where the debtor can be forced to pay part of his earnings to the person owed the money. |
| Grand Jury | A group of 12 to 23 Citizens who examine evidence and decide whether to bring an indictment. |
| Hearing | Listening to arguments concerning a case. |
| Hearsay | Evidence not coming from personal knowledge, but based on what someone else said. *Not admissible in court. |
| Homicide | The killing of one human being by another. |
| Hung Jury | A jury unable to make a unanimous decision. |
| Indefinite Sentence | A prison sentence for a indefinite period of time. Usually within a given range. (5-10 years). Parole Board may decide release. |
| Indictment | A written accusation of a grand jury charging a person with a crime. Usually only in felony cases. |
| Inquest | A coroners investigation into the circumstances of a death. |
| Joy Riding | Taking a vehicle without permission but with the intention of returning it. |
| Jurisdiction | Area of authority of a court. |
| Jury | A group of people sworn to give a verdict on a matter brought before them. |
| Justice | Administration of the Law. Fairness. |
| Juvenile | A young person between the ages of 11 and 17 (in Colorado). |
| Juvenile Delinquent | A minor who has done something usually punishable by criminal law. |
| Liability | Legal responsibility for illegal or harmful act. |
| Libel | Writing something that is injurious to the reputation of another |
| Miranda Rights | Rights possessed by persons who are arrested by the police. (Remain silent, Attorney, etc.) |
| Misdemeanor | A minor crime |
| Mistrial | An invalid trial because of a lack of some fundamental requirements. |
Combine with other sets
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