Glossary of Police ,

Crimes and Law

enforcement Terms



:
2010

Police Terms Glossary

1

accomplice A person that helps someone else commit a crime. Can be on purpose or not.
: .
accountability
Having to answer for one's conduct. Both police organizations and individual officers are
distinctly accountable to the public, elected officials, and the courts for how well they control
crime, maintain order, and perform these tasks while remaining in compliance with the law.
/

.
accused The person that is charged with a crime and has to go to criminal court.
: .
aggravated mayhem - Causing permanent disability or disfigurement with specific intent to
cause the injury and with extreme indifference to well-being of other person.

.
aggravated trespass
Unlawfully entering property of another with specific intent to carry out prior threat of serious
bodily injury.

.
aggravated battery
Unlawful use of force against another such as using a dangerous weapon.

.
aggravating factors Any factors associated with the commission of a crime which increases the
seriousness of the offense.

.
anti-money laundering - designed to combat the laundering of money obtained by illegal means.

.
armed and dangerous - is carrying a weapon and has a violent background .

2

 .
arrest - The legal capture of a person who is charged with a crime.

.
arson -The malicious burning of someones own house or of someone elses house, or of
someones commercial or industrial property.

.
assailant - person who assaults or attacks
/
.
assault When someone tries or threatens to hurt someone else. Can include violence, but is not
battery.
/
.
assault with a deadly weapon - When someone tries to hurt someone and there is threat to do
bodily harm without justification by use of a weapon like a gun or a knife.


.
at large (on the loose) - not caught, running free

.
back-up - police that are called in to support or help.

.
bad faith- Generally implies actual or constructive fraud, or a design to mislead or deceive
another.

.

baton (night stick) - heavy stick that police use for controlling crowds or defending themselves.

 /
.
battery Illegal beating or physical violence or control of a person without their permission.

.
bona fide
Sincere, real without fraud or deceit. in good faith.

.
book ( verb ) - register someone as a criminal.

bribe A gift, not necessarily of monetary value, given to influence the conduct of the receiver.

.
burglar a person who breaks into a home or business and steals items.
( )
.
bust ( v.) to catch and punish someone for doing something that is illegal .
.

capacity The person with the ability to perform under his or her will.

.
carjacking -taking a motor vehicle that belongs to someone else against his will, by means of
force or fear.

.
cell - individual room in a jail/prison.

.
check washing - The process of altering checks by using an acid-based chemical solution to
erase amount and payee information.

.
4

chop shop - An illegal operation at which stolen cars are disassembled and their traceable parts
are altered or disposed of so that untraceable parts can be sold to repair shops, salvage yards,
and indiscriminate buyers.

.
commissioner of police- the highest rank in a police force

community policing

. ;
composite drawing A picture of an alleged criminal created by a professional police artist
using verbal descriptions given by the victim or a witness.

.
confession When someone admits out loud or in writing that they committed a certain kind of
crime.

.
confiscate - To seize or take private property for public use (the police took the weapon).

( ) .
controlled substances- Any drug identified by law whose availability is restricted.

.
conversion - The wrongful assumption of ownership over the goods or personal property
belonging to another.

.
convict - a person who is doing (or supposed to be doing) jailtime.

.
cop/copper- police officer (common slang)

coroner- Public official charged to inquire into the causes and circumstances of any death which
occurs through violence or suddenly (suspicious causes).
5


.
counterfeiting . the crime of making imitation money or other objects of value

.
crime scene- the place where a crime happened .

.
crime Something you do, or dont do, that breaks a law. If you are found guilty, you can be
punished by: death; jail or prison; fine; being removed from office; being unable to hold any
office of honor, trust, or profit.

.
criminal record - (1) Arrest record. A written account listing all the instances in which a person
has been arrested. (2) A form completed by a police officer when a person is arrested.

1.
2. .
criminal record - a file that lists all of the crimes a person has committed.

.
criminal -Someone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor.

.
criminal street gang - An ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons,
having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more criminal acts, having a
common name or common identifying sign or symbol, and whose members individually or
collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity.


.
cruiser (squad car)- police car
.

deadly weapon Any weapon, instrument or object that is capable of being used to inflict death
or great bodily injury.

.
defamation -When one person hurts another persons character, fame, or reputation by making
false and malicious statements that are not protected by law.

.
defraud- To make a misrepresentation of an existing material fact, knowing it to be false or
making it recklessly without regard to whether it is true or false. To practice fraud; to cheat or
trick. To deprive a person of property or any interest, estate, or right by fraud, deceit or
artifice.

.
detective- police officer responsible for solving crime.

.
detention- When a person is temporarily locked up until the court makes a final decision.

.
disorderly conduct- Any behavior, contrary to law, which disturbs the public peace or
decorum, scandalizes the community, or shocks the public sense of morality.

.
distinctively/ marked A vehicle, operated by a peace officer, is distinctively marked when in
addition to a lighted red lamp and activated siren, the vehicle is of such appearance that a
reasonable person would be able to recognize it as a peace officers vehicle, and a person fleeing
is on reasonable notice that pursuit is by a peace officer.
/
" "
.
disturbing the peace- Conduct which tends to annoy all citizens, including unnecessary and
distracting noisemaking.

.
do time - receive punishment for a crime by spending time in jail.

.
domestic dispute- argument/trouble in the home(often leads to violence).
7


.
drive- by murder- Murder perpetrated by means of discharging a firearm from a motor
vehicle intentionally at another person outside of the vehicle. When the perpetrator specifically
intended to inflict death, the murder is of the first degree.

.
elements of a crime - Specific factors that define a crime which the prosecution must prove
beyond a reasonable doubt in order to obtain a conviction. The elements that must be proven
are 1) that a crime has actually occurred, 2) that the accused intended the crime to happen, and
3) a timely relationship between the first two factors.

.2 1
. 3 . .
embezzlement - Taking property by a person to whom the property has been entrusted.

.
escape - get away from a holding place .

escape by force or violence - Using force to escape from custody


excessive force - Use of unreasonable amount of force by police officer.

.
eye witness - One who saw the act, fact, or transaction to which he or she testifies.

.
felony - A serious crime that can be punished by more than one year in prison or by death.

.
fine - money that a person pays for breaking a law .

.
firearms - weapons that shoot .

forcible and atrocious crime- Any felony that by its nature and the manner of its commission
threatens, or is reasonably believed by the defendant to threaten life or great bodily injury so as
to instill in him a reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury. Murder, mayhem, rape, and
8

robbery are all forcible and atrocious crimes.

: . .
good faith - An honest belief, the absence of malice, and the absence of design to defraud.

.
Good Samaritan Rule - One who assists a person in imminent and serious danger, though
negligence of another cannot be charged with negligence in attempting a rescue.

.
good time- A reduction in sentenced time in custody as a reward for good behavior. It is usually
one-third to one-half off the maximum sentence.

.
gross negligence - A negligent act(s) which is reckless or flagrant and which is such a departure
from conduct of an ordinary, prudent person under the same circumstances as to be contrary to
a proper regard for human life or to constitute indifference to the consequences of those acts.
The facts must be such that the consequences of the negligent act(s) could reasonably have been
foreseen and it must appear that the death/danger to human life was
not the result of inattention or mistaken judgment, but the natural and probable result of
reckless or flagrantly negligent act.
( )
.
/
.
guilty - responsible for a crime, deserving of punishment.

.
handcuffs Chains or shackles for the hands to secure prisoners.
/
.
holding cell - A temporary location inside a courthouse where prisoners are held before and
after their court appearance.

9

imminent peril - Certain, immediate, and impending danger.

.
Imprisonment - The act of putting or confining a man in prison, or the restraint of a mans
personal liberty.

.
Informant - An undisclosed person who confidentially discloses material information of a crime
to the police, which is usually done in exchange for a reward or special treatment.

.
Informer - somebody who gives information to the police about a crime or about criminals

.
infraction - A minor violation of a law, contract, or right that is not a misdemeanor or a felony
and cant be punished by time in prison. Minor traffic offenses are generally considered
infractions.

. .
infringement of copyright - the act of illegally copying a work without proper permission or the
consent of the copyright owner .

.
infringement of patent - the act of illegally using, making or selling an invention which is
patented without the permission of the patent holder .

.
infringing goods - goods which are made in infringement of a copyright or patent .

10

 .
innocent - not responsible for the crime .

Interpol - an international police organization whereby the member countries co-operate in
solving crimes .

.
intruder - a person who enters a home or business illegally .

.
Investigations , A legal inquiry to discover and collect facts concerning a certain matter.
/
.
jail (prison)- a place where criminals are confined.

.
jail booking report
A document containing complete personal information about a suspect, including a photograph,
fingerprints, and a list of the suspect's personal property at the time of booking.


.
joyriding - Illegally taking an automobile without intent to deprive the owner permanently of
the vehicle, often involving reckless driving.

.
juvenile - A person under 18 years old.

.
kidnapping - The taking or detaining of a person against his or her will and without lawful
authority.

.
Kleptomaniac- somebody who steals things because he or she suffers from kleptomania .
11


.
lineup - A police identification procedure by which the suspect to a crime is exhibited, along with
others, before the victim or witness to determine if the victim or witness can identify the suspect
as the person who committed the crime.


.
malicious mischief - Willful destruction of property, from actual ill will or resentment toward its
owner or possessor.

.
malpractice -Violation of a professional duty to act with reasonable care and in good faith
without fraud or collusion. This term is usually applied to such conduct by doctors, lawyers, or
accountants.

.. .
menace - A threat; the declaration or show of a disposition or determination to inflict an evil or
injury upon another.

.
misdemeanor - A crime that can be punished by up to one year in jail.

.
money laundering is generally regarded as the practice of engaging in financial transactions to
conceal the identity, source, and/or destination of illegally gained money by which the proceeds
of crime are converted into assets which appear to have a legitimate origin.

/
.
moonlight to do a second job for cash, often in the evening, as well as a regular job, usually not
declaring the money earned to the income tax authorities (informal)

.
moratorium - a temporary stop to repayments of money owed
12

 .
Mr Big - a criminal whose name is not known, who is the person in control of a large criminal
operation (informal) .
( )
.
mugger- somebody who attacks and robs someone .

.
mugshot Pictures taken after a suspect is taken into custody (booked), usually used as an
official photograph by police officers.

.
noise complaint - a call to the police to complain of disturbing noise (usually music or a party) .

( / )
nuisance - That activity which arises from unreasonable, unwarranted or unlawful use by a
person of his own property, and producing such material annoyance resulting in damage.

.
obscenity - Conduct tending to corrupt the public morals by its indecency or lewdness.
/
.
own recognizance - Release of a person from custody without the payment of any bail or posting
of bond.


patrol (on patrol) verb - observe and protect an area .

.
penitentiary

.

perpetrator- person who committed the crime.

13


.
personal recognizance -Pre-trial release based on the persons own promise that he or she will
show up for trial (no bond required). Also referred to as release on own recognizance or ROR.

.
petty offence -An offense for which the authorized penalty does not exceed imprisonment for 3
months .

.
photofit- trademark for a method of making a picture of a criminal from descriptions given by
witnesses, using pieces of photographs of different types of faces


.

pickpocket- a thief who steals from people's pockets in transit or in crowds .

.
pilfer- to steal small objects or small amounts of money .

.
piracy
1.

a robbery at sea, by attacking ships

2.

the activity of copying patented inventions or copyright works

1. .
2. .
police brutality: Police brutality is the use of any force exceeding that reasonably necessary to
accomplish a lawful police purpose .


.

possession of drugs - The presence of drugs on the accused for recreational use or for the
14

purpose to sell

.
premeditation - The planning of a crime before the crime takes place, rather than committing
the crime on the spur of the moment.

.
priors - Term meaning previous conviction(s) of the accused.

.
pursuit - the act of searching for .

rap sheet A written summary of a persons criminal history .

.
riot - A public disturbance involving acts of violence by persons where three or more persons are
gathered.

.
rout, Two or more persons, assembled and acting together, making any attempt or advance
toward the commission of an act which would be a riot if actually committed.

.
search and seizure - A person or place is searched and evidence useful in the investigation and
prosecution of a crime is taken. The search is conducted after an order is issued by a judge.

.
search warrant An order that tells the police to search a specific place to find specific people or
things. A judge can order a search warrant if there is probable cause.

.
shoplifting - The willful taking and concealing of merchandise from a store or business with the
intention of using the goods for ones personal use without paying the purchase price.

.

solicitation -A person who asks someone to commit an illegal act has committed the criminal act
15

of solicitation.

speeding ticket- a fine given to a driver who gets caught driving beyond the speed limit .

.
spouse/cohabitant beating

steal - to take something that does not belong to you .

.
stop and frisk/ patting down- The situation in which a police officer who is suspicious of an
individual detains the person and runs his hands lightly over the suspect's outer garments to
determine if the person is carrying a concealed weapon.

.
.
.
street crime- crime such as drugs and prostitution .

.
taser- A taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control
of muscles.

( )

.
16

traffic offences- offences committed by drivers of vehicles.

underworld- the world of criminals

unlawful assembly- At common law, the meeting together of three or more persons, to the
disturbance of the public peace, and with the intention of forcible and violent execution of some
unlawful private enterprise.


Utter - To use or to attempt to use a check, draft, or order to either (1) assert that it is genuine,
or (2) represent to another person that it is genuine.


Vandalism - Willful or malicious acts that are intended to damage or destroy public or private
property.

.
victim - A person who is the object of a crime or civil wrongdoing.

.
violation- A breach of a right, duty, or law.
/
.
walkie-talkie - hand held radio each partner carries
.
.
wanted- being searched for by police.

.
young offender (juvenile delinquent) - a minor who commits a crime (usually under age of 18)

18 .
counterpunching- Occurs when someone calls the police about another person to divert
attention from his or her own behavior.
.
defense-of-life rule
17

States that police officers are allowed to use deadly force only in situations where their own lives
or the life of another person are in danger.

.
discovery time - The interval between the commission of a crime and its discovery .

.
grass eater -A police officer who passively accepts gratuities offered to him or her.
.
verbal abuse- The use of inappropriate language, particularly racial and ethnic slurs, by police
officers.


zero-tolerance policing -Based on the belief that aggressive enforcement of disorder will
motivate residents to better care for their community, a policy that calls for the police to focus
primarily on disorder, minor crime, and the appearance of crime through interventions that
vigorously enforce criminal and civil laws and are conducted for the purpose of restoring order
to communities.

References
1. English/Arabic Legal Glossary , Superior Court of California, County of
Sacramento .
2. Wikipedia encyclopedia .

3. The Free Dictionary , By Farlex , http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com.

18

Crimes
Glossaries

19

Glossary of Felony Terms

arson- The criminal act of intentionally burning a building, home or other structure. A death
.resulting from arson is considered a felony-murder in most states

.
compounding a felony- The act of being harmed by a felony, then reaching an agreement with the
one causing the harm that the person harmed will not tell the authorities in exchange for money or
.other recompense. It is often equated to accepting a bribe for silence



.
felonious- A criminal act done with criminal intent such that it amounts to a felony. It has been
.traditionally understood as an act of malicious intent to harm another

.
subornation of perjury- The crime of encouraging, influencing or assisting another to commit
.perjury

.
conspiracy- A conspiracy is the criminal planning and carrying out of illegal activities by two or
20

.more people

.
.felon- A person who has been convicted of a felony

.
misprision of a felony- The criminal act of concealing another's felony from law enforcement. This
.crime comes very close to the act of an accessory


.
.felony- A crime punishable by a minimum of one year or more in state or federal prison

felony of assumption of a person

21

Crime scene Glossary

crime scene The location at which a crime was committed.

.
Crime scene cleanup is a term applied to any situation involving biological cleaning and or health
concerning issues. Such issues may include:
Suicides
Homicides


:


crime scene entry log A written chronological record of all persons who enter and leave the crime
scene and the times they do so.

.
criminalistics The application of scientific disciplines, such as geology, physics, chemistry, biology,
and mathematics, to criminal investigation and the study of physical evidence

.
Comparison samples: A generic term used to describe physical material/
evidence discovered at crime scenes that may be compared with samples
from persons, tools, and physical locations.
:
/
.
composite drawing A picture of an alleged criminal created by a professional police artist using
verbal descriptions given by the victim or a witness.
22


.
defense wounds Wounds suffered by victims while attempting to protect themselves from an assault;
often inflicted by a knife or club.

.
dental identification The identification of an individual on the basis of dental records (or,
sometimes,"smiling photographs); performed by a forensic dentist, who compares before-death
records with after-death findings to see if there is a match.

) (
.
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) A nucleic acid consisting of the molecules that carry the body's genetic
material and establish each person as separate and distinct.
( )
.
digital forensic analysis The process of acquiring, preserving, analyzing, and presenting evidentiary
electronic data relevant to an investigation or prosecution.

.
DNA profiling (also called DNA testing, DNA typing, or genetic fingerprinting) is a technique
employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals by their respective DNA
profiles. DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a person's DNA makeup, which can
.also be used as the person's identifier
( )
(
.

.
Documentation: Written notes, audio/videotapes, printed forms, sketches
and/or photographs that form a detailed record of the scene, evidence
recovered, and actions taken during the search of the crime scene.

/
.

23

evidence Anything that tends logically to prove or disprove a fact at issue in a judicial case or
controversy.

.
Evidence identifiers: Tape, labels, containers, and string tags used to
identify the evidence, the person collecting the evidence, the date the
evidence was gathered, basic criminal offense information, and a brief
description of the pertinent evidence.


.

facial identification systems Manual kits or computer programs for preparing a likeness of a suspect;
creates a composite from individual facial features.
.
.
facial recognition software Any of various computer programs that compare video images of persons'
faces (taken by cameras at arenas, airports, hotels, etc.) with mug shots of known offenders for the
purpose of identifying and apprehending wanted persons.

)
. (
fingerprint classification A system used to categorize fingerprints on the basis of their ridge
characteristics.

.

24

fingerprint patterns Patterns formed by the ridge detail of fingerprints; primarily loops, whorls, and
.arches

.
firearm identification The process of identifying a gun, often on the basis of a bullet but also through
identification of types of ammunition, knowledge of the design and functioning of firearms,
.restoration of obliterated serial numbers, and estimation of the distance between a gun and a victim


.
First responder(s): The initial responding law enforcement officer(s)
and/or other public safety official(s) or service provider(s) arriving at the
scene prior to the arrival of the investigator(s) in charge.
:
.
fluorescent powders Powders, dusted on areas being examined, that chemically enhance latent prints
viewed under UV, laser, or alternative light illumination.


.
footwear impressions Impressions that result when footwear, feet, or tires tread on a moldable
surface such as earth,sand, clay, or snow
25


.
forensic pathology The study, by physicians, of how and why people die; can also include
examination of the living to determine physical or sexual abuse

.
forensic photograph analysis The comparison of photos from a security surveillance camera with file
.pictures of suspects to identify a perpetrator or acquire information about him or her


.
forensic science The examination, evaluation, and explanation of physical evidence in terms of law.

.
forgery : Any falsification or alteration of a document; can be traced, simulated, or freehand.

.
fracture match The alignment of the edges of two items of evidence, thereby showing that both items
.were previously joined together

.

Investigator(s) in charge: The official(s) responsible for the crime scene

investigation.

.

26

latent prints
Although the word latent means hidden or invisible, in modern usage for forensic science the term
latent prints means any chance or accidental impression left by friction ridge skin on a surface,
regardless of whether it is visible or invisible at the time of deposition. Electronic, chemical and
physical processing techniques permit visualization of invisible latent print residues.
) (

.
.
rigor mortis The increasing rigidity of the body's muscles and joints that begins soon after death;
reaches completion in 10 to 15 hours and starts to subside 24 to 36 hours later. Also called
postmortem rigidity or rigor.

15 10
36 24 .
rough sketch A drawing made at the crime scene; not drawn to scale, but indicates accurate
dimensions and distances.

.

27

patent prints
Patent prints are chance friction ridge impressions which are obvious to the human eye and which
have been caused by the transfer of foreign material from a finger onto a surface. Some obvious
examples would be impressions from flour and wet clay. Because they are already visible and have no
need of enhancement they are generally photographed rather than being lifted in the way that latent
prints are. Patent prints can be left on a surface by materials such as ink, dirt, or blood.
) (

.


. .

plastic prints
A plastic print is a friction ridge impression left in a material that retains the shape of the ridge detail.

.

series (crime) A crime characteristic in which crimes of the same type are
committed over a short period of time, usually by the same offender.


.
staged crime A staged crime scene is one in which evidence has been moved or
changed in order to change the impression of the type of crime, the perpetrator or the
motive for the crime. For example, a husband kills his wife in anger, but takes her watch
and jewelry and rifles through drawers to make the scene appear as though it was a
robbery gone wrong. By changing the initial impression of the motive for the crime, the
husband hopes to eliminate himself from suspicion.
28



.


telephone record analysis
An intelligence technique in which telephone records are compiled and
analyzed to obtain information on the relationships between the subscriber
and the numbers called.


.

References
1. English/Arabic Legal Glossary , Superior Court of California, County of
Sacramento .
2. Wikipedia encyclopedia .

3. The Free Dictionary , By Farlex , http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com.

4.National Institute of Justice Glossary.
5. Criminal Justice Glossary.
http://www2.cruzio.com/~zdino/psychology/criminal.justice.glossary.htm

29

Glossary of drunk driving terms

ADMIN PER SE Latin meaning,by itself, inherently. Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) to automatically suspend or cancel the drivers license of a driver whose blood alcohol
content measures more than .08%, or who refuses to take a test to measure his/her blood alcohol
level.
/
80%
.
alcohol concentration

( 210) ( 100)
alcohol concentration- Blood alcohol content is the amount of alcohol present in a 100 milliliter (mL)
volume of blood.

( 210) ( 100) .
alcohol gaze nystagmus- Gaze nystagmus caused by the effects of alcohol upon the nervous system.
( )
.
booked- What the police do when they arrest someone. Includes taking fingerprints, photographs,
and writing down personal information about the person.



.

breathalyzer - A breath analysis device which produces an estimate of blood alcohol based upon the
chemical analysis of a breath sample. Many states have phased out these devices, due to new
technologies which are less difficult to administer and less prone to error.
.
30

field sobriety tests (FSTs)

A preliminary test used by law enforcement officers to evaluate whether a driver is intoxicated. The
test is performed on the side of the road where the driver was pulled over, and is designed to test the
driver's ability to perform the type of mental and physical multitasking that is required to operate
an automobile. The driver is often asked to stand on one foot and then the other, walk in a straight
line, touch his or her nose with the forefinger of each hand, say the alphabet backward, and so on.
( FSTs
.( HGN
.
.

intoxication - A person is legally intoxicated when impaired to such a level the person is a danger to
him or herself or to others.

intoxylizer - A breath analysis device which produces an estimate of blood alcohol based upon
infrared spectroscopy.

.
One Leg Stand (OLS) test - a standardized Field Sobriety Test wherein the suspect is instructed to
stand on one leg while looking at his or her foot and count aloud.

.
Preliminary Breath Test - A PBT device is portable in nature, and is often carried by police in the
field. PBT devices provide an estimate of blood alcohol concentration. However, due to the nature of
31

the devices and the circumstances under which they are used, PBT results are not ordinarily
admissible in court except under unusual circumstances.

PBT --
.
.
reckless driving- The dangerous and careless operation of a motor vehicle such that it creates a
substantial certainty that harm will ensue from the circumstances. Most common forms of such
behavior involve driving while impaired from alcohol or drugs.

.
.
)refusal (to take breath, blood and/or urine test
) / (
. /
retrograde extrapolation

.
U.I.- Driving under the influence.

.
D.W.I.- Driving while intoxicated.
) (
.
Vehicle Impound: Towing a vehicle to a designated police impound yard after the driver is arrested
for DUI.

.
vehicular manslaughter

32

References :
1. DUI Glossary ; http://www.duiarresthelp.com/dui-glossary.php
2.Drnk Driving Legal Terms.

33

CYBERCRIME GLOSSARY

computer abuse
Any intentional act involving knowledge of computer use or technology in which the
perpetrator could have made a gain and the victim could have experienced a loss; includes
.acts that may not be covered by criminal laws


.
piracy -- the act of illegally copying software, music, or movies that are copyright-protected

.
Zombie -a program that is installed on a system to cause it to attack other systems.

.
computer crime
Any illegal act in which knowledge of computer technology is used to commit the offense.
Back door -- a vulnerability intentionally left in the security of a computer system or its
software by its designers.

.
biometrics -- the use of a computer user's unique physical characteristics -- such as
fingerprints, voice, and retina -- to identify that user

.
. .
Black hat -- a term used to describe a hacker who has the intention of causing damage or
stealing information.

.
Blended attack - malicious code that uses multiple methods to spread.

.
34

Brute force password attack - a method of accessing an obstructed device through

attempting multiple combinations of numeric and/or alphanumeric passwords.


/ .
compromise
Disclosure of information to unauthorized persons, or a violation of the security policy of a
system in which unauthorized intentional or unintentional disclosure, modification,
destruction, or loss of an object may have occurred. The unauthorized disclosure,
modification, substitution or use of sensitive data (including plaintext cryptographic keys
and other critical security parameters).


).
.
computer abuse
Any intentional act involving knowledge of computer use or technology in which the
perpetrator could have made a gain and the victim could have experienced a loss; includes
acts that may not be covered by criminal laws.
computer crime
Any illegal act in which knowledge of computer technology is used to commit the offense.

.
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) -- an organization that collects and
distributes information about security breaches.
( )
.
computer vandalism
The unauthorized removal of valuable information from a computer system, thereby
preventing the legitimate user or owner from having access to that information.


.
computer vandalism
The unauthorized removal of valuable information from a computer system, thereby
preventing the legitimate user or owner from having access to that information.
Countermeasure -- any action or device that reduces a computer system's vulnerability.

.
35

Cracker -- a term sometimes used to refer to a hacker who breaks into a system with the
intent of causing damage or stealing data.

.
cryptography -- protecting information or hiding its meaning by converting it into a secret
code before sending it out over a public network

.
Cyber Snake Oil. Fraudulently using the Internet to sell such things as fake medications,
unapproved test kits, and fake cures for such things as AIDS and cancer.


..
Cyber bullying. The use of email, instant messaging, and derogatory websites to bully or
otherwise harass an individual or group through personal attacks. Usually applies to schoolage children.

"
."
Cybercrime --. Any type of illegal scheme that uses one or more components of the Internet
(chat rooms, email, message boards, websites, and auctions) to conduct fraudulent
transactions or transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected
with the scheme. Also applies to generating spam emails, downloading viruses or spyware to
your computer, harassing another through the Internet, child pornography , and solicitation
of prostitution online.

)
. (

.
Cyber crook (cybercriminal). A person who uses computers and/or the Internet to perform
illegal acts, such as fraud or hacking.

.
Cyber extortion. A criminal offense which occurs when a person uses the Internet to demand
money or other goods or behavior (such as sex), from another person by threatening to inflict
harm to his person, his reputation, or his property.

36


( )
.
Cyber-harassment. Harassing another through the Internet. Usually applies to adults,
whereas cyber bullying is the term used for school-aged children.

.
Cyber hijacking. Hijacking someones computer, browser, modem, or instant messenger. Also
includes webpage hijacking.

. .
Cyber stalking. A series of actions that puts a person in fear for his or her safety. The act of
stalking carried out with the aid of computers and the Internet. Done primarily through chat
rooms and emails.

. .
.
Cyber terrorism. The use of computers and the Internet to cause harm or severe disruption
with the aim of advancing the attacker's own political, religious, or other goals. Generally
applies to governments and businesses.


. .
Denial of service (DoS) -- an attack that causes the targeted system to be unable to fulfill its
intended function.
(Dos)
.
dumpster diving -- looking through trash for access codes or other sensitive information
/

37

.
Easter egg- hidden functionality within an application program, which becomes activated
when an undocumented, and often convoluted, set of commands and keystrokes are entered.
Easter eggs are typically used to display the credits for the development team and are
intended to be non-threatening.


" " .
.
Education Scam. Selling a worthless diploma or pretending, for an upfront fee, to be able to
get you a grant of scholarship.

.
Email Bombing/flooding. A denial-of-service attack that saturates the victim's email
capability. Simple email bombing involves sending hundreds or thousands of messages to a
person's email address.


.
Employment Scam. Unscrupulous persons posing as recruiters and/or employers offering
attractive employment opportunities which require the job seeker to pay money in advance.


.
Hacking. Original term referred to learning programming languages and computer systems;
now usually understood to mean the process of illegally bypassing the security systems on a
computer system or network.

.
Highjack, Browser. Malicious program that redirects a computers browser to websites that
often are of a pornographic nature or sell bogus anti-spyware software.


.

38

Highjack, Modem. Dialer program that downloads without your knowledge. It disconnects
your computer from your ISP and reconnects it an overseas ISP so that you incur large, longdistance telephone charges.



.

Hijack, Computer. Turning computers into zombies that do whatever the botmaster
instructs them to do.

.. " zombies "
Hijack. The process of taking over a persons computer, browser, instant messenger, or
modem with malicious intent. Also applies to WebPages.

.
Hijack ware. Browser hijacking software.
.
IP spoofing -- an attack where the attacker disguises himself or herself as another user by
means of a false IP network address
.
.
keystroke monitoring -- the process of recording every character typed by a computer user
on a keyboard

.
leapfrog attack -- using a password or user ID obtained in one attack to commit another
attack

.
Lottery Scam. Scam emails tell the recipients they have won a sum of money in a lottery. The
recipients are instructed to keep the notice secret and to contact an agent named in the email.
After contacting the agent, the recipients are asked to pay money as feesbut they never
receive any lottery payments. Another form of advance fee fraud.



39

 .
Malicious code -- Software or firmware intended to perform an unauthorized process that
will have adverse impact on the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an information
system. A virus, worm, Trojan horse, or other code-based entity that infects a host.

.
.
Malware. Malicious computer software that interferes with normal computer functions or sends
personal data about the user to unauthorized parties over the Internet. Malware is commonly taken
to include computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, browser hijackers, and dialers. A
contraction of malicious software.
Masquerading- When an unauthorized agent claims the identity of another agent it is said to
be masquerading.
/
.
money laundering
The process of making illegally obtained money seems legitimate by filtering it through a
business and falsifying the business's accounts and invoices.
money laundering
The processes of making illegally obtained money seem legitimate by filtering it through a
business and falsifying the business's accounts and invoices.
Network Attack. An attempt to bring down a network so that it becomes almost totally unusable.
Network Intrusion. Unauthorized entry into a network.
Off-line Attack - an attack where the attacker obtains some data (typically by eavesdropping
on an authentication protocol run, or by penetrating a system and stealing security files) that
he/she is able to analyze in a system of his/her own choosing.

)
( .
On line Attack - an attack against an authentication protocol where the attacker either
assumes the role of a claimant with a genuine verifier or actively alters the authentication
channel. The goal of the attack may be to gain authenticated access or learn authentication
secrets.


. .
Online Sales Fraud. Generally takes the form of ordering and paying for an item online and
then the item is never delivered.

. .
40

Organized Crime. Crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations.

.
password sniffing -- the process of examining data traffic for the purpose of finding
passwords to use later in masquerading attacks

.
Phishing. Tricking individuals into disclosing sensitive personal information through
deceptive computer-based means.

.
phracker -- a person who combines phone phreaking with computer hacking

phracker -- a person who hacks telephone systems, usually for the purpose of making free
phone calls
.
Ransom ware. Software that is secretly downloaded to a users computer and then holds that
persons files hostage until a ransom is paid.


.
Sexual Predator. A person who preys on people for the intent of committing a sexual assault
crime. The most common means by which sexual predators contact potential victims over the
Internet is through chat rooms, instant messages, and email.

.
.
spam -- unsolicited commercial email

Spoofing -- IP spoofing refers to sending a network packet that appears to come from a
source other than its actual source. Involves
the ability to receive a message by masquerading as the legitimate receiving destination, or (1
2) Masquerading as the sending machine and sending a message to a destination.

"

1)
41

2) .
Spyware. Software that is secretly or surreptitiously installed into an information system to
gather information on individuals or organizations without their knowledge; a type of
malicious code.


.
Trap and trace device -- a device used to record the telephone numbers dialed by a specific
telephone.
Trojan horse -- A non-self-replicating program that seems to have a useful purpose, but in
reality has a different, malicious purpose.

.
Unauthorized Access - a person gains logical or physical access without permission to a
network, system, application, data, or other resource. It occurs when a user, legitimate or
unauthorized, accesses a resource that the user is not permitted to use.

.

.
Verifier Impersonation Attack An attack where the attacker impersonates the verifier in an
authentication protocol, usually to learn a password.


.
virus
A computer virus is similar to a Trojan horse because it is a program that contains hidden
code, which usually performs some unwanted function as a side effect. The main difference
between a virus and a Trojan horse is that the hidden code in a computer virus can only
replicate by attaching a copy of itself to other programs and may also include an additional
"payload" that triggers when specific conditions are met.

.

.
war dialer -- software designed to detect dial-in access to computer systems

42

Warez -- A term widely used by hackers to denote illegally copied and distributed
commercial software from which all copy protection has been removed. WareZ often
contains viruses, Trojans and other malicious code and thus is very risky to download and
use (legal issues notwithstanding).
( )

.
.
white hat -- a hacker whose intentions are not criminal or malicious

.
wiretapping -- the interception of electronic communications in order to access information

Worm a self-replicating, self-propagating, self-contained program that uses networking
mechanisms to spread itself.

References:
1. High-tech Dictionary, Computer User, www.computeruser.com/
resources/dictionary.
2. Computer Definitions, http://ths.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/
comphelp/2005011632014938.html.
3. Encyclopedia, PCMag.com, www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia.
4. Moritz, Robert, Protect yourself from cyber crooks, Parade, www.parade.com,
June 28, 2006.
5. Milhorn, H. Thomas, Cybercrime, In Crime: Computer Viruses to Twin Towers,
Universal Publishers, Boca Raton, 2005, Pp 46-70.
6. Cybercrime Glossary, TechTv, www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/ 35124/
cyberCrime_Glossary.html, November 30, 2001.
7. Bank Fraud, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_fraud.
8. Milhorn, H. Thomas, Writing Genre Fiction: A Guide to the Craft, Universal
Publishers, Boca Ratan, 2006.
9. Connelly, Jennifer, Colleen OReilly, and Darin Beffa, Credit card fraud online,
www.pubpol.duke.edu/centers/dewitt/course/internet/ fraud/ccfraud.html.
10. Credit Repair Scams, BCSAlliance.com, and www.bcsalliance.
Com/z_creditrepairscams~ns4.html.
11. High-tech Dictionary, Computer User, www.computeruser.com/
resources/dictionary.

43

Glossary of Murder Terms

capital offenseA crime that you can get the death penalty for committing.

.

crime of passion- A crime of passion, in popular usage, refers to a crime in which the perpetrator
commits a crime, especially assault or murder, against someone because of sudden strong impulse such as
sudden rage or heartbreak rather than as a premeditated crime



first degree murder- first-degree murder is defined as an unlawful killing that is both willful and
premeditated, meaning that it was committed after planning or "lying in wait" for the victim.

.

.
heat of passion- in a criminal case, when the accused was in an uncontrollable rage at the time of commission
of the alleged crime.

homicide- the killing of a human being due to the act or omission of another. Included among homicides are
murder and manslaughter, but not all homicides are a crime, particularly when there is a lack of criminal intent.
Non-criminal homicides include killing in self-defense, or legal (government) execution. Suicide is a homicide, but
in most cases there is no one to prosecute if the suicide is successful. Assisting or attempting suicide can be a
crime.

.


44

MANSLAUGHTER, INVOLUNTARY Unlawful killing of another, without malice, when the death is caused by some
other unlawful act not usually expected to result in great bodily harm.

-



.
.
.
MANSLAUGHTER, VOLUNTARY Unlawful killing of another, without malice, when the act is committed with a sudden
.extreme emotional impulse

.
.

Assassination
An assassination is "to murder (a usually prominent person) by sudden or secret attack, often for political
reasons." An additional definition is "the act of deliberately killing someone especially a public figure,
"usually for hire or for political reasons.
Assassinations may be prompted by religious, ideological, political, or military motives. Additionally,
assassins may be prompted by financial gain, revenge, a desire to acquire status within a group.

45

justifiable homicide- The intentional killing of another human being without any evil design, and under such
circumstances of necessity or duty as render the act proper, and relieve the party from any shadow of blame.

.
mayhem- A malicious injury which disables or disfigures another.

.
.

murder- The unlawful killing of a human being with deliberate intent to kill.
.
second degree murder- A non-premeditated killing, resulting from an assault in which death of the victim was
a distinct possibility. Second degree murder is different from First Degree Murder which is a premeditated,
intentional killing, or results from a vicious crime such as arson, rape, or armed robbery.

.
.
.
self-defense- Claim that an act was legally justifiable because it was necessary to protect a person or property from the
threat or action of another.

.
.

46

Personal Injury Glossary of Terms

civil Law: A branch of law governing disputes between individuals and/or corporations, in which
compensation may be awarded to one or more parties. For the purpose of civil law, corporations take
on the legal status of individuals. Civil law is distinct from criminal law, and a civil action may not
necessarily preclude a criminal action.

/

.
.

class-action lawsuit: A lawsuit filed by a plaintiff or plaintiffs on behalf of themselves and all
individuals similarly identifiable as part of a group with the plaintiffs. Class-action lawsuits are most
frequently filed to make a company responsible for liability of its products, such as defective drugs
or faulty products that cause injury or sickness.

.
.

compensatory damages: Money awarded to a plaintiff in a civil court case for actual economic losses.


.

Defendant: in a civil court of law, the party against whom the civil lawsuit has been filed.

47

 .
discrimination: Unequal and unfair treatment of individuals based on race, sex, age, marital status,
religion or any other factor in consideration for employment, housing, and other. Civil rights laws
may allow legal recourse for violations of these rights by discrimination in many cases.

due diligence: In tort law, the effort made by a prudent or reasonable party to avoid or prevent harm
to another party. If the party is determined in court not to have acted with due diligence, that party
may be considered negligent.


.
.
Excited Delirium: A term used to describe a state of physiological agitation leading to death that
most often occurs during arrest or in police custody, typically also involving use of illegal substances.



.
hate crime: A crime committed against another individual specifically to cause harm due to
prejudice over race, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion or another factor.

.

Hit and run: A type of automobile accident in which the person responsible for a collision with a
person, personal property or another vehicle leaves the scene of the accident without declaring
48

himself.

:

Liability: Legal responsibility for an act or omission resulting in injuries and damages to person
and/or property, regardless of fault. Employers may be subject to vicarious liability, in which they
are liable for the actions or omissions of a third party over whom they have the right, duty or ability
to control. Manufacturers may be subject to product liability for products they manufacture,
distribute or sell.

/
.

.
.
Medical Malpractice: Professional negligence by a health care provider who departs from accepted
standards of medical practice and by an act or omission causes injury to the patient.


.
Negligence: The law requires us to act with "reasonable care". The specifics of what constitutes
reasonable care vary somewhat from state to state and from situation to situation.

.
Pain and suffering: A legal term for damages recoverable by the plaintiff for emotional trauma as
well as mental and physical pain as a result of the acts or omissions of the defendant.


49

 .
Plaintiff: The person or company that files a lawsuit.

.
Product Liability: Legal responsibility by a company for defects in its products, as well as any
wholesalers or retailers who may have contributed to or caused a defect. In many defective products
cases, many defendants are named.


.
.

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


.

Tort: When a person is hurt because someone did not do what he or she was supposed to do. . The
most common tort action is a suit for damages as a result of an automobile accident.

50

Sex Crime Terms Glossary of

child molestation , Any form of indecent or sexual activity on, involving, or surrounding a child
under the age of 18.
.
child pornography, Any obscene material that depicts a person under the age of 18 years personally
51

engaging in or personally simulating sexual conduct.

.
child procurement, Intentionally giving, transporting, providing, or making available or offering to
give, transport, provide, or make available a child under the age of 16 for the purpose of any lewd or
lascivious act. Also causing, inducing, or persuading a child under the age of 16 to engage in any
lewd or lascivious act with another person.

16 .
incest, Sexual intercourse between persons so closely related that marriage between them would be
unlawful.

.
indecent exposure- Showing private body parts in a lewd or indecent manner in a public place.


.
Obscene, Conduct tending to corrupt the public morals by its indecency or lewdness.

.
panderer, pimp. A person who Arranges for acts of prostitution.

.
Pedophile, an adult who is sexually attracted to young children.

.
.
.
peeping tom , A person who gets pleasure, especially sexual pleasure, from secretly watching others;
a voyeur.

.
pimp, the act of getting customers for a whore or prostitute; one who gets customers for a whore or
prostitute.

pornography, obscene writings, drawings, photographs, or the like, esp. those having little or no
artistic merit.
52


.
prostitution , the act or practice of engaging in sexual intercourse for money.

.
rape , Unlawful intercourse with an individual without their consent.

.
Sex offender- Generic term for all persons convicted of crimes involving sex, including rape,
molestation, and pornography.

.
sexual harassment , Sexual words, conduct, or action (usually repeated and persistent) that, being
directed at a specific person, annoys, alarms, or causes substantial emotional distress in that person
and serves not legitimate purpose.


..
sexual molestation , Illegal sex acts performed against a minor by a parent, guardian, relative or
acquaintance

.
sexually violent predator , a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against two
or more victims and has a diagnosed mental disorder that makes him or her a danger to the health
and safety of others.

/ /
.
Sodomy , Anal copulation between humans, or between humans or animals.

53

References
1. English/Arabic Legal Glossary , Superior Court of California, County of
Sacramento .
2. Wikipedia encyclopedia .

3. The Free Dictionary , By Farlex , http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com.

54

Glossary of Theft Terms

Breaking and entering- The criminal act of entering a dwelling of another without
legal permission and with the intent to commit a crime inside that dwelling. Today,
breaking and entering can apply to a vehicle or any other enclosed structure.

-
.
.
Burglar a person who breaks into a home or business and steals items.

.
Forcible entry- The crime of unlawfully taking possession of a house or structure by
the use of force or threat of force.


.
Larceny- The intentional taking of another person's property without legal
permission.

..
Pickpocket- a thief who steals from people's pockets in transit or in crowds.

.
Possession of stolen goods- The unlawful possession of goods known to have been
stolen. It is generally considered a felony.

( ) .
Robbery- The unlawful taking of property from a person through force, threat or
intimidation. Robbery is a considered an aggravated felony when it is accompanied
with a dangerous weapon such as a gun

.
.
Shoplifting - The wilful taking and concealing of merchandise from a store or business with
the intention of using the goods for ones personal use without paying the purchase price.
55


.
theftCrimes of larceny. Larceny is the unlawful and intentional taking of another
persons property with the intent to deprive that person of said property
permanently. Larceny can be done by fraud, force or threat of force..

References
1. English/Arabic Legal Glossary , Superior Court of California, County of
Sacramento .
2. Wikipedia encyclopedia .

3. The Free Dictionary , By Farlex , http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com.

56

Glossary of White Collar Crimes Terms

Confidence game- The procurement of money by trick or deceit. This type of crime is
usually perpetrated on the elderly.

.
Embezzlement- A white-collar crime where an employee misappropriates money or
property rightfully belonging to the employer. This crime is considered a larceny.

.
Extortion- The obtaining of money or property by threat of harm to another.
Blackmail is a form of extortion in which the threat is to expose embarrassing and/or
damaging information to another person or governmental agency.

.

.
false pretenses- A crime of larceny where the perpetrator knowingly makes material
untrue statements for the purpose of obtaining money or property fraudulently


.
Fraud- The act of obtaining money or property by deceit, tricks or dishonest acts.
Most acts of fraud are felonies. Criminal fraud is commonly perpetrated against the
aged and infirm.


.
insider trading- The unlawful stock trading by a company insider such as a highlevel employee who possesses confidential and nonpublic information about his
company and thereafter trades stock to gain unfair advantage
) (


57


Tax evasion- The intentional defrauding of the government of taxes legally owed.
Evasion is distinguished from the lawful interpretation of tax rules which can be
.challenged by either the government or the taxpayer

.

.

References
1. English/Arabic Legal Glossary , Superior Court of California, County of
Sacramento .
2. Wikipedia encyclopedia .

3. The Free Dictionary , By Farlex , http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com.

58

Law
Enforcement
Glossaries

59

Glossary of Attorney Terms

attorney in fact A private person (who is not necessarily a lawyer) authorized by
someone to act in his or her place, either for some particular purpose, or for the transaction
of business in general. This authority is given in writing, called a power of attorney.


.
Attorney -at-law An advocate, counsel, or official agent employed in preparing,
managing, and trying cases in the courts.
/
.
Attorney of record- The lawyer whose name is listed in a case record as representing
someone in the case.

.
Attorney- Someone that is qualified to represent clients in court and to give them legal
advice.

Attorney-client privilege- The legal rule that an attorney may not reveal communications,
conversations and written material between the attorney and his or her client. Lawyers are
expected to speak freely with a client without fear of future disclosure. The
communication between a client and his or her attorney is considered sacred.
60





attorneys work product- An attorneys written materials, notes, conversations,
investigations, and thoughts on a case made in preparation for defending a client in that
case or legal proceeding.


Closing argument- The final argument by an attorney after all evidence has been
presented by both sides. Unlike the opening statement, which is limited to what the
attorney intends to prove; closing argument often includes emotional argument and
appeals to the jury for justice, forgiveness and fairness.


.
Contingency fee- An agreement between a client and an attorney wherein payment to the
attorney is based upon the monetary recovery by the client, and not on an hourly rate.


.
defense- In a civil case, the facts or arguments presented by the defendant to show why
the plaintiff doesnt have a right to the relief asked for.The legal representation by an
attorney on behalf of a client who has been charged with a crime or, a lawsuit against
whom it was filed. A criminal defense includes the sum total of all actions taken on behalf
61

of the accused by a criminal defense attorney. In a criminal case, the reasons why a
defendant should not be convicted of the charge(s).

.
.
Power of attorney- A legal document in which an individual designates another
individual to act on his or her behalf. The power of attorney can be very broad, or can be
restricted to one type of act (for example, signing checks).

( )
.
Prima faci case A case that is sufficient and has the minimum amount of evidence
necessary to allow it to continue in the judicial process. From the Latin for from first
view.

.
prior(s) - The customary phrase used by lawyers and judges describing someone with a
record of prior criminal charges or convictions. A record of "priors" demonstrates a repeat
offender. Judges usually use the priors to justify giving a longer sentence to the repeat
offender.

.
PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS Confidential communications to certain
persons that are protected by law against any disclosure, including forced disclosure in
legal proceedings. Communications between lawyer and client, physician and patient,
psychotherapist and patient, priest, minister, or rabbi and penitent are typically privileged.

1.
62

2 .
.
.
PRO SE Person who presents their own cases in court without lawyers.

.
Prosecution- The attorney and resources that represent the government in bringing formal
criminal charges against a person accused of a crime.

.
Res judicator A rule of civil law that once a matter has been litigated and final judgment
has been rendered by the trial court, the matter cannot be relit gated by the parties in the
same court, or any other trial court.


.
Retainer Act of the client employing the attorney or counsel. Also, the fee the client
pays when he or she retains the attorney to act for him or her.

1. .2 . .

63

Glossary of Bail Terms

admission to bail- A court order in a criminal case allowing the accused to be freed pending
trial if the accused posts bail in an amount set by the court. The posting of bail is intended
to insure that the defendant will in fact appear in court for all criminal proceedings. If the
defendant fails to show up in court the bail is lost.


.
Bail- The money put up to secure the release of a person who has been charged and jailed
for a crime. The idea behind bail is that it guarantees the appearance of the defendant in
court for further legal proceedings. There is a constitutional right to a fair bail amount. This
will vary depending on the severity of the crime.
/

.
Bail bond- A legal paper that you buy from a bondsman and give to the court instead of bail. The
defendant signs it and is let go. But if they dont come to court when theyre supposed to, they must
pay the amount of money on the bail bond.



.
Bail bondsman- A bond agent who specializes in providing bail bonds for people charged
with crimes. Bail bondsmen usually charge a fee of 10 percent of the amount of the bond.

.
Bail forfeiture A court order to let the court keep the bail deposit because the defendant didnt go to
court when they were supposed to.
64



.
Bailments A delivery of goods from one person to another in trust for purpose of carrying out
agreed upon services.

.
Bail notice A legal paper from the court that says the court will make a WARRANT for arrest unless
the defendant goes to court or pays bail.


.
own recognizance- O.R.- The term own recognizance (O.R) means being released from
custody without the need for the defendant to post bail on the defendant's own promise
(own recognizance) to return to court for continued criminal proceedings.


.

65

Glossary of Criminal Hearing Terms

arraign- Process where the person who is accused is brought before the court to hear the criminal
charge(s) against him or her and to plead guilty, not guilty or no contest.

.
indictment- A formal charge by a grand jury saying there is enough evidence that the defendant
committed the crime to justify having a trial. Used primarily for felonies.

.
.
. .
. .

Plea- In a criminal case, the defendants statement pleading guilty or not guilty in answer to the
charges.

" "
.

Accomplice- A person that helps someone else commit a crime. Can be on purpose or not.

admission

66

Saying that certain facts are true. But not saying you are guilty.

()
ALIBI- A defense claim that the accused was somewhere else at the time a crime was committed.

.
arraignment-When a person that is accused of committing a crime is taken to court, told about the
charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.

.
circumstantial evidence-All evidence that is indirect. Testimony not based on actual personal
knowledge or observation of the facts in dispute.

" .
. .
.
Evidence- Any proof legally presented at trial through witnesses, records, and/or exhibits.

. ) (

.
IN PROPIA PERSONA (IN PRO PER)- When a person represents himself or herself without a
lawyer. This comes from the Latin for in ones own proper person.

.
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.- A belief in the American legal system which states that all
people accused of a criminal act are considered not to have committed the crime until the evidence
leaves no doubt in the mind of the court or the jury that the accused did or did not commit the crime.


.

67

judgment notwithstanding the verdict It refers to the jury's ruling reversed in favour of the loosing
party of the lawsuit ,by the judge, because he feels that the points considered by the jury were not
based on the facts and evidences and was doing injustice to the party. The judge has the power to
"reverse the verdict of he jury and does it for the "matter of law


.
judicial discretion- It refers to the inherent powers of the judge to pass a judgement without
interference of the rules laid in the statues or rulebooks. Their discretion in certain range in deciding
is accepted by the higher court if the judge is not bias or does not go beyong their authority. As in
child custody, the judge can take its own decision on the basis of his/her understanding of the case
) (

.
.
material witness- In criminal trial, a witness whose testimony is crucial to either the defense or
prosecution.
,

.
) . (
plea bargain - An agreement between the prosecutor and the defendant. It lets the defendant plead
guilty to a less serious charge, if the court approves.

)(
.
preliminary hearing - The hearing available to a person charged with a felony to determine if there is
enough evidence (probable cause) to hold him for trial.


.
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probable cause - A good reason to believe that a crime has or is being committed; the basis for all
lawful searches, seizures, and arrests.


. .

testimony - Oral evidence at a trial or deposition.

.
Trial- A court process in which the issues of fact and law are heard and decided according to legal
procedures so a judicial officer or jury can make a decision.

. "
."

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Glossary of Criminal Intent

admission of guiltA statement by someone accused of a crime that he/she committed the offense. If the
admission is made outside court to a police officer it may be introduced as evidence if
the defendant was given the proper warnings as to his/her rights ("Miranda warning")
before talking.


..
Alias - A defense claim that the accused was somewhere else at the time a crime was committed.

.
Aid and abet- The act of helping someone commit a crime. Depending on the jurisdiction, such an
act occurs before the crime is committed.
-
Duress- Consists in any illegal imprisonment or threats of bodily harm in order to coerce the will
of another and inducing him to do an act contrary to his free will.
. -

. .
Intent
Also known as "mens rea" or "criminal intent" it is the foundation of all criminal law. Our justice
system demands that before one can be found guilty of a crime, the state must show that the person
intended to do the crime. Without intent there can be no crime.
. " " " " -

.
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Transferred intent Doctrine under which original malice is transferred from one against whom it
was entertained to person who actually suffers consequence of unlawful act. When one attempts to
kill a certain person, but by mistake or inadvertence kills a different person, the crime, if any, so
committed is the same as though the person originally intended to be killed, had been killed.


.
Willful conduct- A willful act is one done intentionally, as distinguished from an act done
carelessly or inadvertently.

.

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Glossary of Court Witnesses & Testimony Terms

adverse witness
A person called to testify for the other side.

.
affiant A person who makes and signs an affidavit.

.
affidavit A written statement that someone swears to under oath in front of someone that is legally
authorized, like a judge or notary public.

attest To witness, to affirm to be true or genuine, to certify.


attestation The act of witnessing something in writing, at the request of a party.

character witness Evidence pertaining to whether a criminal defendant is a good or bad person.

.
.
cross examination When the other sides lawyer asks a witness questions in a hearing or trial.
.
defense witness

.
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deposition Written or oral testimony given under oath in front of an authorized third person like a
court reporter. Depositions take place outside of the court. They allow the parties to get a record of a
persons testimony, or to get testimony from a witness that lives far away. They can help the lawyers
prepare their court papers called pleadings.
. .
.
exclusion of witnesses An order of the court requiring all witnesses to remain outside the courtroom
until each is called to testify, except the plaintiff or defendant. The witnesses are ordered not to
discuss their testimony with each other and may be held in contempt if they violate the order.

.
expert testimony Qualified by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education to provide a
scientific, technical or specialized opinion of the subject about which he or she is to testify. That
knowledge must not be generally possessed by the
average person .


.
eyewitness- One who saw the act, fact, or transaction to which he or she testifies.

.
hostile witness , A witness whose testimony is not favorable to the party who calls him or her as a
witness. May be asked leading questions and may be cross-examined by the party who calls him or
her to the stand.

.
impeachment of witness , To call into question the truthfulness of a witness.

.
jurat , A Certificate of officer or person before whom writing was sworn to. The clause written at the
foot of an affidavit, stating where, when, and before whom the affidavit was sworn.

.
material witness , In criminal trial, a witness whose testimony is crucial to either the defense or
prosecution.

.
oath , When a witness promises to tell the truth in a legal proceeding.

73

 .
prior inconsistent statement In evidence, these are prior statements made by the witness which
contradict statements the witness made on the witness stand.

.

prosecution witness The person whose complaint begins a criminal prosecution and whose
testimony is mainly relied on to secure a conviction at the trial.
.
testify , To give evidence under oath as a witness in a court proceeding.

.
testimony , Oral evidence at a trial or deposition.

.
victim impact statement , A statement during sentencing which informs the judge of the impact of
the crime on the victim or the victims family.

.
witness , A person called testify about what he or she saw, heard, or knows. 2. To sign your name to a
document for the purpose of authenticity.

1. .
2. .
witness stand , The space in the courtroom occupied by a witness while testifying.

.

74

Glossary of Legal Motion Terms

motion Oral or written request made by a party to an action before, during, or after a trial
asking the judge to issue a ruling or order in that partys favor.

.
motion dendied Ruling or order issued by the judge refusing the partys request.

.
motion for a new trial- A motion made after trial requesting that the court grant a new trial on
the basis of some error of law or prejudice during the trial which could not be
corrected by a jury instruction.


.
motion for dismissal- A defendant's motion requesting the judge to rule that the prosecution
failed to reach their burden of proof. Alternatively stated, the prosecutor's evidence fails to
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime.

.
.
motion granted Ruling or order issued by the judge approving the partys request.

.
motion quash A request to make something null or ineffective, such as to quash a
subpoena.

.
motion to severe A request usually by defense, to have a separate trial as to either jointly
tried defendants or jointly charged counts.

75

 .
motion to suppress- A common motion in criminal trials wherein counsel for the defendant
claims that evidence brought against the defendant was illegally obtained and therefore cannot
be used against him or her.


.
sue - To bring a lawsuit against another person.

waiver- The voluntary and knowing waiver of a legal right such as a speedy trial, a
preliminary hearing. A waiver is made sometimes for the purpose of expediency and
sometimes for strategy. For example, a defense lawyer might think that waiving a preliminary
hearing would be advantageous since it might preclude adding new charges to the indictment.

.
.
.

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References :
1. English/Arabic Legal Glossary , Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento .
2. Wikipedia encyclopedia .
3. The Free Dictionary , By Farlex , http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com.
4. http://guides.gottrouble.com/Glossary_of_Theft_Terms-a1204903.html
5. Glossary of Court Witnesses & Testimony Terms
6. Glossary of Court & Evidence Terms
7. Glossary of Attorney Terms
8.Glossary of Theft Terms

77