200 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Arrest: The action of taking a person into custody, typically by law

enforcement, for suspicion of committing a crime.

2. Bail: A sum of money or property deposited with the court to ensure a

defendant's appearance at trial.

3. Arraignment: The formal reading of charges against a defendant in court,

to which they must enter a plea.

4. Acquittal: A legal finding of not guilty, resulting in the defendant's release.

5. Conviction: A legal finding of guilt against a defendant.

6. Defendant: A person accused of committing a crime in a court of law.

7. Due process: The legal requirement that the government must respect all
legal rights owed to a person.

8. Evidence: Any type of proof legally presented at trial, including witness

testimony, documents, and physical objects.

9. Felony: A serious crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one

year.

10. Misdemeanor: A less serious crime punishable by imprisonment for up to

one year.

11. Grand jury: A panel of citizens that decides whether there is enough
evidence to indict a defendant and proceed to trial.

12. Habeas corpus: A legal action that requires a person under arrest to be
brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's
release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

13. Impeachment: The process of charging a government official with

wrongdoing.

14. Indictment: A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.

15. Jurisdiction: The authority of a court to hear and decide cases within a
specific geographic area or over certain types of cases.
16. Miranda rights: Constitutional rights that must be read to a suspect
before questioning by law enforcement, including the right to remain silent
and the right to an attorney.

17. Parole: The supervised release of a prisoner before the completion of

their sentence.

18. Probable cause: The legal standard by which law enforcement has reason
to believe a crime has been or is being committed.

19. Prosecutor: A lawyer who represents the government in criminal

proceedings and brings charges against a defendant.

20. Restitution: Compensation paid by a defendant to a victim for losses

suffered as a result of the defendant's criminal conduct.

21. Subpoena: A legal order requiring a person to appear in court or to

produce evidence.

22. Verdict: The decision reached by a jury or judge in a trial.

23. Witness: A person who has information about a crime and provides
testimony in court.

24. Admissible evidence: Evidence that is allowed to be presented in court

during trial.

25. Alibi: A defense claim that the defendant was elsewhere at the time the
crime was committed.

26. Appeal: The process of asking a higher court to review the decision of a
lower court.

27. Bailiff: An officer of the court who maintains order and security in the
courtroom.

28. Beyond a reasonable doubt: The standard of proof required for a

conviction in a criminal trial, indicating that the evidence must be so strong
that there is no reasonable doubt of guilt.

29. Chain of custody: The chronological documentation of evidence to

establish its authenticity and integrity.

30. Civil rights: Rights guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and laws
enacted by the government.
31. Community service: A court-ordered requirement for a defendant to
perform unpaid work in the community as part of their sentence.

32. Contempt of court: Disobeying or showing disrespect for the authority of

a court.

33. Cross-examination: Questioning of a witness by the opposing party

during a trial.

34. Custody: The legal right and responsibility to care for a person or
property.

35. Deliberation: The process by which a jury discusses and considers

evidence in order to reach a verdict.

36. Discovery: The process by which parties in a legal case exchange

information and evidence prior to trial.

37. Double jeopardy: The constitutional protection against being tried twice
for the same offense.

38. Exclusionary rule: The legal principle that evidence obtained illegally
cannot be used in court.

39. Expert witness: A person with specialized knowledge who is allowed to

testify in court about that knowledge.

40. Felony murder: A legal doctrine that holds a person responsible for any
death that occurs during the commission of a felony, even if the person did
not intend for anyone to be killed.

41. Good faith exception: A legal doctrine that allows evidence obtained in
violation of the Fourth Amendment to be admitted in court if the law
enforcement officer acted in good faith.

42. Grand theft: The theft of property exceeding a certain value, typically
classified as a felony.

43. Hung jury: A jury that is unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in
a mistrial.

44. Immunity: Protection from prosecution granted to a witness in exchange

for their testimony.

45. Inadmissible: Evidence that is not allowed to be presented in court.

46. Incarceration: The act of confining someone in a prison or jail.

47. Infraction: A minor offense, often punishable by a fine rather than
imprisonment.

48. Injunction: A court order requiring a person to do or refrain from doing a

specific action.

49. Intentional tort: A civil wrong resulting from intentional harm to a person
or property.

50. Jail: A facility where individuals are held in custody for short periods,
typically before trial or after sentencing for misdemeanors or short
sentences.

51. Jury: A group of citizens sworn to hear evidence and render a verdict in a
trial.

52. Juvenile delinquent: A minor who has committed a crime.

53. Larceny: The unlawful taking and carrying away of someone else's
property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it.

54. Mistrial: A trial that is terminated and declared invalid due to a

fundamental error or inability of the jury to reach a verdict.

55. Negligence: Failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable

person would exercise in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another
person or property.

56. No contest plea: A plea in which the defendant does not admit guilt but
accepts punishment as if guilty.

57. Parole officer: A law enforcement officer who supervises individuals

released on parole.

58. Perjury: The act of lying under oath in court or in sworn documents.

59. Petit jury: A trial jury, usually consisting of 12 members, that decides
guilt or innocence in a criminal case.

60.

Plea bargain: An agreement between the prosecution and the defense in

which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more
lenient sentence.
61. Precedent: A legal principle established by a court decision that is
subsequently followed by courts in similar cases.

62. Pretrial hearing: A court proceeding held before a trial to resolve legal
issues or determine the course of the trial.

63. Probation: A period of supervision ordered by the court instead of or in

addition to incarceration.

64. Prosecutorial discretion: The authority of a prosecutor to decide whether

to bring charges against a suspect and what charges to bring.

65. Public defender: A lawyer appointed by the court to represent a

defendant who cannot afford to hire a private attorney.

66. Reasonable suspicion: A standard of proof required for a law enforcement

officer to stop, detain, or search a person, based on specific and articulable
facts.

67. Reckless endangerment: Behavior that creates a substantial risk of harm

to others, without regard for the consequences.

68. Recidivism: The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.

69. Reformation: The process of changing a person's behavior or character,

typically through rehabilitation programs.

70. Rehabilitation: The process of restoring a convicted criminal to a law-

abiding life, often through education, therapy, or job training.

71. Resisting arrest: The act of obstructing or opposing a law enforcement

officer who is making a lawful arrest.

72. Restorative justice: A system of criminal justice that focuses on repairing

the harm caused by crime and reconciling the parties involved.

73. Robbery: The unlawful taking of property from a person's immediate

possession by force or threat of force.

74. Search warrant: A court order authorizing law enforcement officers to

search a specific location for evidence of a crime.

75. Self-defense: The legal right to protect oneself or others from harm, using
reasonable force if necessary.

76. Sentencing: The process of determining the punishment for a convicted

criminal.
77. Statute of limitations: The time period within which a legal action must
be initiated.

78. Subornation of perjury: The act of persuading or inducing someone to

commit perjury.

79. Testimony: Oral or written evidence given by a witness under oath in

court.

80. Tort: A civil wrong that causes harm or loss to another person or property.

81. Vandalism: The intentional destruction or damage of property belonging

to another person.

82. Venue: The geographic location where a trial takes place.

83. Vicarious liability: Legal responsibility imposed on one person for the
actions of another, typically an employer for the actions of an employee.

84. Warrant: A legal document issued by a judge authorizing a specific

action, such as an arrest or a search.

85. White-collar crime: Nonviolent crimes committed by individuals or

corporations for financial gain, typically involving fraud or deceit.

86. Wiretap: The interception of telephone or electronic communications by

law enforcement with judicial authorization.

87. Witness protection program: A program designed to protect the safety

and security of witnesses who testify in criminal cases.

88. Wrongful death: A civil action brought against a person who is deemed
responsible for causing someone else's death through negligence or
intentional harm.

89. Youth detention center: A facility for the temporary confinement of

juvenile offenders, providing education, counseling, and rehabilitation
programs.

90. Zero tolerance: A policy that imposes strict penalties for even minor
infractions, often resulting in harsh punishments regardless of circumstances
or context.

91. Abduction: The illegal taking away of a person by force or coercion.

92. Accomplice: A person who knowingly helps another person commit a

crime.
93. Acquittal: A legal judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime they
were accused of.

94. Adjudication: The formal judgment or decision of a court regarding the

guilt or innocence of a defendant.

95. Affidavit: A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, used as

evidence in court.

96. Allegation: A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal
or wrong, typically without proof.

97. Appeal bond: A bond posted by a defendant to secure their release while
awaiting the outcome of an appeal.

98. Arrest warrant: A legal document issued by a judge authorizing the arrest
of a person suspected of committing a crime.

99. Asset forfeiture: The seizure of property by the government as a penalty

for illegal activity.

100. Bail bondsman: A person or company that provides bail money for a fee,
allowing defendants to be released from jail before trial.

101. Bench trial: A trial in which a judge, rather than a jury, decides the
outcome.

102. Booking: The process of officially recording an arrest, including taking

fingerprints and photographs of the suspect.

103. Burglary: The unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit
theft or another crime.

104. Capital punishment: The legally authorized killing of a person as

punishment for a crime.

105. Child abuse: Physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment of a child,

often by a parent or caregiver.

106. Civil forfeiture: The seizure of property by the government in civil

proceedings, often without charging the owner with a crime.

107. Civil law: The body of law that deals with disputes between individuals
or organizations, typically involving compensation rather than punishment.

108. Civil rights violation: Any action that deprives an individual of their
rights guaranteed by law.
109. Conspiracy: An agreement between two or more people to commit a
crime.

110. Correctional facility: A place where individuals convicted of crimes are

incarcerated.

111. Court clerk: An administrative officer of the court responsible for

maintaining records and assisting judges and attorneys.

112. Crime scene: The location where a crime occurred, where evidence is
collected and analyzed by law enforcement.

113. Criminal law: The body of law that defines and governs conduct
prohibited by the government.

114. Cybercrime: Criminal activity carried out using computers or the

internet.

115. Death penalty: See capital punishment.

116. Detention: The temporary confinement of a person by law enforcement.

117. Discovery phase: The pre-trial phase in which parties exchange

information and evidence.

118. Drug trafficking: The illegal trade or distribution of drugs.

119. Embezzlement: The fraudulent appropriation of funds or property

entrusted to one's care.

120. Entrapment: The act of law enforcement inducing a person to commit a

crime they would not otherwise have committed.

121. Espionage: The practice of spying or using espionage tactics to obtain

confidential information.

122. Extradition: The legal process of transferring a person accused of a

crime from one jurisdiction to another.

123. False imprisonment: The unlawful restraint or confinement of a person

without legal justification.

124. Forgery: The act of producing fake documents or altering existing

documents with the intent to deceive.

125. Hate crime: A criminal offense motivated by bias or prejudice against a

particular group.
126. Identity theft: The fraudulent use of someone else's personal
information.

127. Inchoate offense: An incomplete or anticipatory offense, such as

attempt or conspiracy.

128. Incompetence to stand trial: The legal determination that a defendant is

mentally incapable of participating in their own defense.

129. Inmate: A person confined in a prison or correctional facility.

130. Insanity defense: A legal defense asserting that a defendant was unable
to understand the nature of their actions or distinguish right from wrong at
the time of the crime.

131

. Interrogation: The questioning of a suspect by law enforcement officers.

132. Intoxication: The state of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

133. Juvenile court: A court system for cases involving minors accused of
committing delinquent acts.

134. Manslaughter: The unlawful killing of another person without malice

aforethought.

135. Mass incarceration: The high rate of imprisonment in a population,

particularly within certain demographic groups.

136. Miranda warning: See Miranda rights.

137. National Crime Information Center (NCIC): A database containing

criminal justice information maintained by the FBI.

138. National Security Agency (NSA): A government agency responsible for

collecting and analyzing intelligence and information related to national
security.

139. Negligent homicide: The killing of another person through reckless or

negligent behavior.

140. Obstruction of justice: The act of interfering with the administration of

law or the investigation of a crime.
141. Organized crime: Criminal activity carried out by organized groups or
syndicates.

142. Parole board: A panel responsible for determining whether an inmate is

eligible for parole.

143. Peremptory challenge: The right to exclude a potential juror without

providing a reason.

144. Plea agreement: An agreement between the prosecution and defense in

which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more
lenient sentence.

145. Police brutality: The excessive or unnecessary use of force by law

enforcement officers.

146. Precedent: A legal principle established by a court decision that serves

as an authority in similar cases.

147. Pretrial release: The release of a defendant from custody before trial.

148. Private investigator: A licensed professional hired to conduct

investigations.

149. Pro bono: Legal services provided free of charge.

150. Probable cause: The legal standard of proof required for a search or
arrest.

151. Procedural due process: The constitutional guarantee of fair legal

proceedings.

152. Racketeering: The operation of illegal businesses or enterprises, often

characterized by extortion, fraud, or other criminal activities.

153. Reckless driving: Operating a vehicle with a disregard for the safety of
others.

154. Rehabilitation: The process of restoring a convicted criminal to a law-

abiding life.

155. Resisting arrest: The act of obstructing or opposing a lawful arrest.

156. Restitution: Compensation paid to a victim for losses suffered as a result

of a crime.

157. Retribution: Punishment inflicted on a person as vengeance for a

criminal act.
158. Riot: A violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd, often characterized
by property damage, looting, or other criminal behavior.

159. Search warrant: A legal document authorizing law enforcement officers

to search a specific location for evidence of a crime.

160. Self-incrimination: The act of implicating oneself in a crime or exposing

oneself to criminal prosecution.

161. Sentence: The punishment imposed on a convicted criminal.

162. Sexual assault: Any non-consensual sexual contact or behavior.

163. Solicitation: The act of seeking to persuade someone to commit a crime.

164. Stalking: The act of harassing or following someone persistently.

165. Statute of limitations: The time limit within which legal proceedings
must be initiated.

166. Subpoena: A legal order requiring a person to appear in court or to

produce evidence.

167. Terrorism: The use of violence or intimidation for political purposes.

168. Testimony: The evidence given by a witness under oath.

169. Theft: The unlawful taking of someone else's property.

170. Trespassing: Entering someone else's property without permission.

171. Treason: Betrayal of one's country, typically by aiding its enemies or

attempting to overthrow its government.

172. Undercover: A law enforcement officer or informant who works secretly

to gather information or evidence on criminal activity.

173. Vehicular manslaughter: The unintentional killing of another person

while operating a vehicle recklessly or negligently.

174. Verdict: The decision reached by a jury or judge in a trial.

175. Vigilante: A person who takes the law into their own hands by
attempting to enforce justice outside the legal system.

176. Voluntary manslaughter: The intentional killing of another person in the

heat of passion or under circumstances that mitigate the offense from
murder to manslaughter.
177. Waiver: The voluntary relinquishment or surrender of a known right or
privilege.

178. Wire fraud: A crime involving the use of electronic communications to

defraud others, typically through schemes to obtain money or property
unlawfully.

179. Witness protection program: A program designed to protect the safety

and security of witnesses who testify in criminal cases, often by relocating
them and providing new identities.

180. Wrongful conviction: A conviction of a person for a crime they did not
commit, often due to errors in the legal process or the presentation of false
evidence.

181. Zealotry: Fanatical devotion to a cause or belief, often characterized by

extreme or uncompromising views or actions.

182. Crime scene investigation (CSI): The process of gathering, preserving,

and analyzing evidence from a crime scene to reconstruct events and
identify suspects.

183. Under the influence (UI): A state of being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
to the extent that one's normal faculties are impaired.

184. Nolo contendere: A plea in a criminal case in which the defendant does
not admit guilt but accepts punishment as if guilty.

185. Chain gang: A group of prisoners chained together while performing

hard labor, typically outdoors.

186. Kidnapping: The crime of unlawfully seizing and carrying away a person
by force or fraud, often with the intent to hold them for ransom or as a
hostage.

187. Hate speech: Speech that offends, threatens, or insults individuals or

groups based on race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits.

188. Blue-collar crime: Crimes committed by individuals from lower

socioeconomic backgrounds, typically involving theft, fraud, or vandalism.

189. Cyberbullying: The use of electronic communication to harass,

intimidate, or threaten others, often through social media, email, or text
messaging.
190. Plea hearing: A court proceeding in which the defendant enters a plea
of guilty, not guilty, or no contest to the charges against them.

191. Gun control: Laws and regulations governing the manufacture, sale,
possession, and use of firearms.

192. Hate group: An organized group or movement that promotes hatred,

hostility, or violence against individuals or groups based on race, religion,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.

193. No-fly list: A list maintained by government agencies that restricts

certain individuals from boarding commercial aircraft, typically due to
security concerns.

194. Racial profiling: The practice of law enforcement targeting individuals

for suspicion of crime based on their race, ethnicity, religion, or national
origin.

195. Capital offense: A crime punishable by death, typically reserved for the
most serious offenses such as murder or treason.

196. Gun violence: Acts of violence committed using firearms, including

homicide, assault, suicide, and accidental shootings.

197. Prohibited person: An individual who is legally barred from possessing or

purchasing firearms, typically due to a criminal conviction, mental illness, or
restraining order.

198. Solitary confinement: The practice of isolating prisoners in a small cell

for 22 to 24 hours a day, often for extended periods, as a form of punishment
or control.

199. Cybersecurity: Measures taken to protect computer systems, networks,

and data from unauthorized access, attack, or damage.

200. Plea negotiation: The process of bargaining between the prosecution

and defense to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of a criminal case,
often involving the defendant pleading guilty to lesser charges in exchange
for a reduced sentence.