Juvenile Vocab Unit

Verdicts

A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.

Cognitive

Relating to the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses

Penal Code

A compilation of laws concerning crimes and their punishments

Senate Bill

A proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one that is introduced and processed in the US Senate.

Erratic

Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable

Transfer Hearing

A legal proceeding where a judge decides whether a juvenile should be tried in adult court instead of juvenile court.

Prosecutor

A person, especially a public official, who institutes legal proceedings against someone.

Defense Attorney

A lawyer who represents a defendant in a lawsuit or criminal prosecution.

Restorative Justice

A process for addressing harm and conflict by involving victims, offenders, and the community to decide how to repair the damage caused.

Racial Disparity

Persistent imbalances in outcomes between different racial groups, visible in areas like income, health, housing, and the justice system.

Felony

A serious crime, punishable by death or more than one year of imprisonment, typically in a state or federal prison

Quandary

A state of perplexity, or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation

Misdemeanor

A criminal offense that is less severe than a felony and is punishable by a fine, probation, community service, or a jail sentence up to one year in a county jail

Recidivism

The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend

Perpetuated 

Make (something, typically an undesirable situation or an unfounded belief) continue indefinitely 

Habeas Corpus

A legal procedure, ( The Great Writ) that allows a person to challenge their detention by demanding that the government prove its lawfulness in court

Tort

A wrongful act or injury that causes civil harm to another person or their property, for which the injured party can seek a remedy in court, usually monetary damages

Jurisdiction

The legal authority a court has to hear and decide a case, and it can be limited by geography, the type of case, or the people involved

Affidavit

A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court

Due Process

Fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen’s entitlement