PAT Layouts and Terminology
What is the term for the individual who files an action against another in a court record?
Plaintiff/Complainant/Accuser
What type of PII includes height, hair color, and eye color?
Physical Traits
Which court typically deals with minor criminal offenses and traffic violations?
Municipal Court
What does "Nolle Process" mean in a court case?
Charges are not pursued or dropped.
What are docket notes sometimes called?
ROA (Register of Actions)
What does "Disposition Date" refer to in a court record?
The date of the final decision on a charge
What does MSA stand for in the context of geographical areas?
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
What type of court generally operates at the county level and handles a mixture of criminal and civil cases?
County Court
What is an "Alford Plea"?
A plea where the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the charge.
What should you do if there is not a clear outcome in a case?
Review the docket notes; if still unclear, ask in the IHMF-Agents channel
What is the unique identifier for a court record that differs by state or county?
Case Number/Case ID/Docket Number
What should you do if there is a discrepancy between candidate information and the PAT?
Typically, you want 3 pieces of matching PII information; if in doubt, ask in the IHMF-Agents channel.
Which court handles appeals from the district courts within their circuit?
Circuit Court
What does it mean if a record is "Sealed/Expunged"?
The record no longer exists or is no longer public.
What is a common occurrence in Gwinnett, GA regarding disposition dates?
If there is more than one disposition date, use the first date if the disposition has not changed; otherwise, use the most updated disposition.
What is the term for a defendant's formal response to a criminal charge in court?
A plea
What PII can be used to match a candidate to a record?
Name, DOB/Age, Address, Physical description (ex height, weight, gender, hair color, etc).
What is the general trial court for a state that handles a variety of cases?
District Court
What is "Alternative Adjudication"?
Programs that let defendants avoid a traditional conviction by meeting certain conditions.
What should you do if the PAT is currently down?
Verify in the Slack channel with the PAT issues workflow and attach screenshots of the error. Mark as "unable to search"
What is the first date that a case was brought to the courts called?
File Date
What should you do if you don’t have enough information to make a match to the candidate?
Use best judgment to determine if it matches the candidate.
What does it mean when a case is "Transferred/Held for Court"?
The case has moved from one court to another.
What should you do if a record comes back as sealed/expunged and there is only one record for a candidate?
Submit as no hit, if there is no other records available.
What does "Conversion" sometimes mean in Indiana?
The case has come to a final judgment.