Kagan
A small crime.
Misdemeanor
A large major crime.
Felony
The person who the crime is against.
Victim
Witness
The person who has been accused of a crime and needs to defend himself/herself.
Defendant
The name of the crime for not telling the truth in court.
Perjury
The right to go to court within three days of being arrested.
Right to a speedy trial
Meeting that happens just before the trial.
Pre-trial conference
Who has the burden of proof?
Prosecutor
The person who makes all court appointments and keeps track of the court paperwork.
A deal between the defendant, the defense attorney, and the prosecuting attorney that the defendant will plead guilty in exchange for a smaller sentence than the defendant would get if he/she went through with a trial and was found guilty by a judge or jury.
Plea bargain
The meeting in court with the judge, where the prosecutor has to convince the judge that there is good evidence to believe that the defendant might have committed the crime that the defendant is charged with.
Preliminary hearing
The defendant's right to have everything he/she says to the defense attorney kept secret.
This plea means the defendant is not going to say whether he/she committed the crime that he/she is charged with.
No contest
The first meeting in the courtroom with the judge, where the charges against the defendant are read, the defendant gets a defense lawyer, and the defendant enters a plea to the charges.
Arraignment
Deliberation
When all the people in the jury cannot agree whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
Hung/Deadlocked jury
When a decision has been made about whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
Verdict
This means that the defendant was found NOT guilty.
Acquitted
This is a witness who can say he/she saw the defendant somewhere else when the crime was happening.
Alibi witness
A sentence where a convicted defendant can stay out of jail but has to follow the judge's rules for a period of time.
Probation
A sentence where the convicted defendant has to pay money to the victim of the crime.
Restitution
A sentence where the convicted defendant has to pay money to the court as part of his/her punishment.
Fine
This means the defendant was found guilty.
Conviction
This is when the judge has to end a trial because the jury is deadlocked.
Mistrial