The department that oversees the actions of probationers as well as the location of where probation officers work.

A court order to protect a person from further harassment, service of process, or discovery.

The act that caused an event to occur. A person generally is liable only if an injury was proximately caused by his or her action or by his or her failure to act when he or she had a duty to act.

An attorney appointed by a court or employed by a government agency whose work consists primarily of defending people who are unable to hire a lawyer due to economic reasons.

Money awarded to an injured person, over and above the measurable value of the injury, in order to punish the person who hurt him.

To clean or clear, such as eliminating inactive records from court files; with respect to civil contempt, to cure the noncompliance that caused the contempt finding.

To overthrow, to vacate, to annul or make void.

Authority or discretion vested in an officer whose acts partake of a judicial character.

A listing of all the criminal convictions against an individual.

Unlawful intercourse with an individual without their consent.

See STATUTORY RAPE.

One who supervises a person placed on probation and is required to report the progress and to surrender the probationer if they violate the terms and conditions of the probation.

The confirmation or adoption of a previous act done either by the party himself or by another.

Evidence given to explain, repel, counteract, or disprove facts given in evidence by the adverse party.

Land, buildings, and other improvements affixed to the land.

The degree of certainty required for a juror to legally find a criminal defendant guilty. An accused person is entitled to acquittal if, in the minds of the jury, his or her guilt has not been proved beyond a "reasonable doubt"; that state of mind of jurors in which they cannot say they feel a persisting conviction as to the truth of the charge.

A phrase used to denote a hypothetical person who exercises qualities of attention, knowledge, intelligence, and judgment that society requires of its members for the protection of his or her own interest and the interests of others. Thus, the test of negligence is based on either a failure to do something that a reasonable person, guided by considerations that ordinarily regulate conduct, would do, or on the doing of something that a reasonable and prudent (wise) person would not do.

Evidence given to explain, counteract, or disprove facts given by the opposing counsel.

Cancellation by a court of a warrant before its execution by the arrest of a defendant; also, a process by which a retired judge may be asked to sit on a particular case.

The continued, habitual, or compulsive commission of law violations after first having been convicted of prior offenses.

Operation of a motor vehicle that shows a reckless disregard of possible consequences and indifference of other's rights.

The practice which enables an accused awaiting trial to be released without posting any security other than a promise to appear before the court at the proper time. Failure to appear in court at the proper time is a separate crime.

The method, established normally by rules to be followed in a case; the formal steps in a judicial proceeding.

All the documents and evidence plus transcripts of oral proceedings in a case.

An offer of proof as to what the evidence would be if a witness were called to testify or answer a question.

Any fact or evidence that leads to a judgment of the court.

See PROSECUTOR and DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

A proceeding instituted and carried on in order to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused.

A trial lawyer representing the government in a criminal case and the interests of the state in civil matters. In criminal cases, the prosecutor has the responsibility of deciding who and when to prosecute.

The performance or agreement to perform a sexual act for hire.