forensic

Expert Witness

Someone who has special knowledge or training in an area of Forensic Science that can testify in court as to the validity of evidence.

Evidence

Anything that tends to prove or disprove a fact.

Arraignment

First act in criminal proceeding, the defendant brought before court to hear charges and enter a plea.

Nolo Contendre

In a criminal layout, a defendant neither admits nor denies a crime but accepts punishment as though she or he was guilty.

Grand Jury

Group of people sworn to inquire into crime, if appropriate, being accused against the suspected criminals.

 Witness Materials

Relevant, and significant, crucial info

Criminal Law

 Regulation and enforcement or rights setting acceptable limits and Robbery, Assault, and Battery.

Civil Law

Deals with noncriminal suits brought to protect or preserve civil or private rights or matters.

Felony

A serious crime, such as ,urder, punishable by more than 1 year of important up to execution.

Misdemeanor

A minor crime, less than a felony, usually punished with a fine or confinement other than prison.

Hearsay

Testimony given by a witness who relates what others have said, not what she/he heard, saw, or knew personally.

Statutory Law

Legislative acts declaring commanding, or prohibiting something.

Probable Cause

Situation in which a reasonable and prudent person, viewing the available information, would conclude that a crime has been committed and that the suspect did it.

Reasonable suspicion

A lower standard of proof than probable cause.

Case/Common Law

The body of the law made up of Judicial opinions and precedents. 

What cases do JP courts handle?

Handles small claims like Class C misdemeanors, traffic tickets, things like evictions.

What cases do county courts handle?

Handles Class A and B misdemeanors.

What cases do district courts handle?

Serious stuff like felony criminal cases, civil cases involving larger amounts of money, and juvenile cases.

Who handles traffic cases and Class C misdemeanors?

JP courts and Municipal courts,  offenses inside city limits.

List crimes from the greatest to the least SERIOUS:

1. Capital felony

2. First-degree felony

3. Second-degree felony

4. Third-degree felony 

5. State jail felony

6. Class A misdemeanor

7. Class B misdemeanor

8. Class C misdemeanor

What is direct evidence?

Evidence that directly proves a fact without needing inference like an eyewitness who saw the crime happen, or a confession.

What is circumstantial evidence?

Evidence that requires inference to connect it to a conclusion, like finding a suspects fingerprints at the scene.

Give examples of physical evidence

Fingerprints, weapons, tool marks, tire tracks, fibers, glass fragments, shell casings

Give examples of biological evidence:

Blood, saliva, hair, semen, skin cells, bone, DNA

4th amendment right?

Protecting people from unreasonable searches and seizures generally requires law enforcement to have a warrant to search a person or their property.

Mirando rights?

The rights police must inform a suspect of before custodial interrogation, the right to remain silent, and the right to an attorney.

What does the Frye Standard deal with?

A legal standard for determining whether scientific evidence/testimony is admissible in court.

What does the Daubert Standard deal with?

Lets judges evaluate scientific evidence based on testability, error rate, peer review, and acceptance

Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace?

Blake Sylvia

County Judge?

Jimmy Sylvia

County Court at Law judge? 

Cindy S. Price

District Attorney?

Cheryl Lieck

Precinct 4 county constable?

Ben L. Bean

County sheriff?

Brian Hawthorne

County attorney

Ashley Land