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Common Law
Law based on previous decisions rather than on written rules.
Precedent
An earlier ruling made by the judicial branch on a similar case.
Statutes
Rules written by a legislative body that govern individuals and/or groups.
Plaintiff
The individual or group that brings charges against the accused.
Defendant
The individual or group that is accused of breaking the law.
Felonies
Serious crimes that have serious consequences for the victim and the criminal.
Misdemeanors
Crimes that are punishable by fines and/or jail time less than one year.
Larceny
Unlawfully taking someone’s property without the intent to return it.
Robbery
Unlawfully taking someone’s property without the intent to return it through the use of force or threats.
Burglary
Unlawfully entering a structure with the intention to commit a crime.
Lawsuit
A legal action in which an individual or group sues to gain compensation for a harm that was done.
Torts
A wrong done to a person that can be tried in a civil court.
Libel
Written information that is false and damaging.
Constitutional Law
Law that is explicitly or implicitly outlined in a constitution.
Stare Decisis
When courts base their rulings on previous court decisions on similar cases.
Writ of Habeas Corpus
The requirement that a person who has been arrested be brought to court to be formally charged with a crime.
Bills of Attainder
Punishing a person accused of a crime without a trial or court hearing.
Ex Post Facto Laws
Laws that punish a person for an action that wasn’t a crime when they did it.
Due Process of Law
Rule that the government may not take individuals' or groups' lives, property, or freedom without following legal procedures.
Search Warrant
A document issued by a judge that allows law enforcement to search a person’s home, property, or effects.
Double Jeopardy
Rule that if a person is tried for a crime and found not guilty, they cannot be tried for the same crime again.
Grand Jury
A group of citizens that hears evidence presented by a prosecutor and decides if there is enough evidence to have a trial.
Plea Bargaining
A negotiation between the prosecutor and the defense attorney to avoid trial in exchange for the defendant accepting a lesser sentence.
Bail
Money an arrested person pays to a court in order to avoid jail time while they wait for their trial.
Parole
Early release from prison.
Complaint
A statement that names the plaintiff and the defendant and describes a lawsuit.
Summons
A document that announces that a defendant is being sued and sets the date and time the defendant is required to appear in court.
Discovery
The period of time during which lawyers on each side have the opportunity to gather evidence, check facts and question witnesses.
Settlement
An amount of money a defendant pays to the plaintiff that results in a trial being unnecessary.
Prosecution
The party who starts legal proceedings against another party for a violation of the law.
Crime
An act that breaks a federal or state criminal law and causes harm to people or society.
Penal Code
Written criminal laws that outline what is a crime and the punishments for each crime.
Mandatory Sentencing
A rule established by a state that requires a judge to impose a specific sentence for a particular crime.
Arraignment
When a defendant is formally presented with the charges against them and asked to enter a plea.
Testimony
Answers a witness gives under oath while questioned in a trial.
Cross Examine
When a witness is questioned by the other side in a case after giving their initial testimony.
Acquittal
A vote by a jury that a defendant is not guilty.
Hung Jury
When a jury cannot agree on a verdict.
Juvenile
Anyone under the age of 18.
Juvenile Delinquents
Anyone under the age of 18 who commits a crime.
Rehabilitate
To correct a person’s behavior rather than punish.
