The person who has been charged with a crime.
Who is a defendant?
The crime a person is accused of committing.
What is Alleged Offense?
When someone is found guilty of the crime they are accused of committing.
What is Conviction?
The answer to the charges made against you.
What is Plea?
To be locked up against your will.
What is Incarceration?
The person who types the words spoken at each hearing.
Who is Court Reporter?
A more serious crime; punishment can be a sentence of one year to life.
What is a Felony?
Telling of a lie on purpose under oath.
What is Perjury?
You do not admit guilt, but you agree to the facts presented by the prosecution.
What is No Contest?
The punishment for being found guilty.
What is Sentence?
The person who presides over the courtroom; acts like a referee.
Who is Judge?
A less serious crime punishable by jail time of less than a year.
What is Misdemeanor?
Speaking in court under oath.
What is Testify?
You did the crime.
What is Guilty?
You go home, but you are under the supervision of an officer; you must follow the rules set by the judge.
What is Probation/Parole?
A group of people from the community who hear a trial and must give a verdict at the end of the trial.
Who is Jury?
This is committed when a person breaks the law.
What is Crime?
Legal proceedings held in the courtroom to decide if a person is guilty, not guilty, guilty but mentally ill, or not guilty by reason of insanity.
What is Trial?
You didn't do the crime.
What is Not Guilty?
The judge puts your sentence on hold until you successfully complete probation; violations of conditions could result in returning back to jail/prison.
What is Suspended Sentence?
Someone who comes to court to testify about your good character.
Who is Character Witness?
The act of apprehending and taking a person into custody, usually because the person has been suspected of or observed committing a crime.
What is Arrest?
Anything that supports a person's guilt or innocence at a trial; testimonies, physical objects, DNA, etc.
What is Evidence?
When the Judge, Prosecutor, and your Defense Attorney allow you to plead guilty to a less serious crime and likely receive a lighter sentence.
What is Plea Bargain?
You did not understand court proceedings, were not able to work with your attorney, or your MH symptoms were affecting your behavior and ability to understand your charge.
What is Incompetent to Stand Trial?