What Are the Replies to a Formal Charge in Criminal Law

Glossary of Legal Terms

This glossary is provided to help you empathize the more usually used legal terms in the federal criminal justice system. If you need to learn the meaning of a legal term not defined below, contact the federal prosecutor or the victim/witness coordinator.

Abstract of judgment - A certification from the U.Southward. Commune Court clerk that a judgment of restitution was entered against the defendant owing to the victim. If the accused inherits, owns, or sells real property or holdings, these avails tin can then exist fastened at the country and local levels besides.

Acquittal - A legal finding that the criminal accused has non been proven guilty of the charge across a reasonable doubt.

Action - The case, cause, or controversy before the courtroom.

Affidavit - A written statement of facts made under adjuration before a notary or court officeholder.

Affirmed - A legal finding by a higher court that the ruling or gild of a lower court is valid and left to stand.

Appeal - A formal, written request to a higher court for relief from findings, decisions, or deportment of the trial court.

Arraignment - The outset court hearing for a person accused of a crime. In the arraignment, the defendant is brash of all pending charges, is asked to plead guilty or not guilty, and is advised of his or her rights in the justice process.

Abort - Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.

Asset - Anything of value, including any interest (disinterestedness) in real or personal property. Assets tin be used to satisfy an social club for restitution, fines, assessments, or other costs imposed by a court.

Asset forfeiture (or attachment) - A procedure by which a person's holding is seized to pay judgments levied by the courtroom.

Assistant U.South. Attorney - A federal prosecutor who represents the U.S. government and its citizens when a federal statute has been violated.

Bail - An assurance, unremarkably backed by money, that a defendant will come to court every bit required if released from jail before trial.

Broke - Being alleged unable to pay one'south debts.

Bond - Another word used for bail in the criminal justice arrangement.

Example - Any proceeding, action, cause, or lawsuit initiated through the court system by filing a complaint, petition, information, or indictment.

Charge - A formal, written allegation that a person violated a law.

Civil forfeiture - The loss of ownership of property used to conduct illegal action.

Clerk of the courtroom - An officer of the court who is in charge of the courtroom's administrative work.

Complaint - A formal accusation to the courtroom that a person violated a law.

Continuance - A postponement, for good cause, of a scheduled court effect.

Confidence - A judgment of guilt against a criminal accused.

Damages - The monetary bounty recovered in the courts by a person who has suffered loss to his or her person, holding, or rights through the unlawful act or negligence of another.

Defendant - A person formally defendant of violating a law.

Defence force chaser - A lawyer who legally represents the interests of a defendant.

Deposition - Oral statement made past a person before an officer authorized past the court to administrate oaths.

Dismissal - The dropping of a case by the approximate without further consideration or hearing.

Docket - A listing of cases on the court's calendar.

Evidence - Whatsoever kind of information from witnesses, records, or documents that purports to show the accused did or did not commit the criminal offense.

Extradition - The formal process of delivering an defendant or convicted person from authorities in i state to regime in another country.

Fiscal Litigation Unit - A division of the civil section in the U.S. Chaser's Office responsible for the collection of fines and restitution.

Fraud - Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.

Grand jury - A panel of citizens who hear evidence collected past the federal prosecutor or his or her amanuensis and and so decide whether the show is sufficient to believe that a defendant violated a certain law and that the defendant should be formally charged.

Guilty - The finding given by the court or jury in a criminal trial when the evidence presented shows "across a reasonable uncertainty" that the defendant committed the crime.

Hearing - A formal proceeding with one or more than legal issues to be agreed upon or determined.

Indictment - A formal, written allegation by the grand jury that in that location is enough evidence to believe the defendant has committed a law-breaking. An indictment is sometimes referred to equally a true pecker.

Information - The formal written accusation charging a item law-breaking, brought past the federal prosecutor rather than past the grand jury.

Jurisdiction - The power or authority of a court to hear and decide a case.

Jury - A console of citizens who listen to testify presented at a trial and decide whether it proves the accused violated a law or is financially liable.

Lien - A claim or accuse put on holding for payment of a debt or functioning of an obligation or duty.

Motion - A written application to the court requesting an order or a ruling in favor of the applicant.

No true bill (also called a no bill) - A legal process to dismiss charges against a accused when the g jury does not find plenty evidence to accuse the accused with violating a police.

Not guilty - The finding given by the court or jury in a criminal trial when the evidence presented does not bear witness "across a reasonable dubiousness" that the defendant committed the crime.

Order - A written direction of the court.

Plea - The defendant's answer (guilty or not guilty) to the accuse made confronting him or her.

Plea agreement - An arrangement betwixt the federal prosecutor, the defense force attorney, and the accused in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in substitution for special considerations.

Pre-sentence investigation written report - A formal, written study prepared by the U.South. Probation Department for the court, before the sentencing hearing, that provides the judge with information about the defendant's background, the crime he or she has been convicted of, and the emotional, fiscal, or physical impact the criminal offense had on the victim.

Pretrial conference - An breezy meeting between the federal prosecutor and the defense chaser to clarify problems and, where applicable, to attempt to work out a settlement earlier whatsoever further courtroom filings and proceedings.

Pretrial interview - An informal discussion, before the trial, betwixt the federal prosecutor or the defense chaser and witnesses to talk over their knowledge of the criminal offence.

Probable cause - A reasonable footing for belief that the offender violated a specific police force.

Probation - A form of penalization that allows the defendant to live in a community nether the supervision of the court and a probation officer later he or she is found guilty or pleads guilty.

Probation Officer - An officer of the court who monitors the accused's behavior to ensure that the defendant obeys all weather of probation.

Remand - A legal ruling by a college court to send a case back to the lower court for farther action.

Restitution - The court-ordered payment of coin by the accused to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.

Sentence - The length and conditions of penalisation given by the court if the defendant is constitute guilty or pleads guilty.

Statute of limitations - The specified period during which a civil activity or criminal accuse can be made.

Subpoena - A written command for a person to appear at a certain place and time to give evidence in court most a criminal offense or other legal affair. Also chosen a summons.

Summons - Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice organisation.

Show - To reply questions under oath in a legal proceeding.

Testimony - Evidence given past a witness under oath.

Trial - A courtroom proceeding in which testimony is presented to a estimate or jury to determine whether the accused is guilty of committing a criminal offense.

True neb - Another word for indictment.

Venue - The place where the trial will be held (normally in the district in which the offense was committed).

Victim - A person who has physically, financially, or emotionally suffered from the committee of a crime by some other.

Victim Impact Statement - A written or spoken argument by the victim or his or her representative nigh the physical, emotional, and financial impact of a offense on the victim. The statement is given to the court before sentencing.

Victim/witness coordinator - A person who provides information about the justice procedure to victims and witnesses of offense. In the federal organization, victim/witness coordinators are employed past some police enforcement agencies and all U.S. Attorneys' Offices.

White-collar crime - A nonviolent criminal act involving cant, concealment, subterfuge, or other fraudulent activity.

Witness - A person who has knowledge of a crime and provides that information to police enforcement officials.

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The information on this page is archived and provided for reference purposes only.

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Source: https://www.ncjrs.gov/ovc_archives/reports/fraud/rrr/gloss.htm