Punishments
Set of laws which are related to the punishment of crimes and offenses.
Penal Code
Unlawful premeditated killing of one human by another
Murder
Illegally taking someone by force or without their consent.
Kidnapping
Legal action between two parties in a criminal law case.
Body of law dealing with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offenses.
Criminal Law
Serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, robbery, etc; punishable by a year or more in state prison.
Felony
Crime of killing a human being without malice prior to the killing.
Manslaughter
Person sexually abusing another person.
Sexual offenses
Obligation to prove or back up claims being made.
Burden of Proof
Common evidentiary standard in civil law cases meeting the burden of proof when at least 51 percent of the provided evidence favors the plaintiff's claims and outcome.
Preponderance of Evidence
Less serious crimes such as shoplifting or DUI; usually carries a fine and/or jail sentence of less than a year.
Misdemeanor
Occurs when a person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence causes the death of another person.
Criminal Homicide
Legally married person marrying or attempting to marry someone other than their spouse or attempting to marry someone other than their spouse who is already married.
Bigamy
Responding party or alleged wrongdoer.
Defendant
Type of evidentiary standard in civil and criminal cases meeting the burden of proof when evidence is substantially and highly more likely to be true than untrue.
Clear and Convincing Evidence
Crimes which can be considered between a felony and misdemeanor, based on circumstances.
Wobbler
Lowest category for an offense resulting in death of another person; involves an unjustifiable risk associated with the events which led to death of another person.
Criminally Negligent Homicide
Officer using his position in an office for unlawful personal gain.
Abuse of Office
Party who was wronged and is filing the civil law case.
Plantiff
Common evidentiary standard in criminal law cases meeting the burden of proof when the prosecutor demonstrates there is moral certainty of the defendant being guilty.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Mild crimes (civil offenses or petty crimes) such as littering, park violations, etc; only punishable by tickets or fines.
Infraction
Murder punishable as the most serious category of felony; involves killing a police officer or firefighter while on duty or committing a murder while committing another serious felony.
Capital Murder
Robbery which includes causing a serious bodily injury, using a deadly weapon or causing threatening injury or death to a person who is disabled or over the age of 65.
Aggravated Robbery.
Legal action between two parties in a civil law case.
Civil Litigation.
Additional financial penalties, determined by the judge; losing party in a civil law case must pay when the behavior was found to be especially harmful.
Punitive Damage