Criminal Defense Terms and Definitions

Assault A willful attempt to illegally inflict injury on or threaten a person. Search warrant An order issued by a judge or magistrate commanding a sheriff, constable, or other officer to search a specified location. Circumstantial evidence All evidence of an indirect nature. Testimony not based on actual personal knowledge or observation of the facts in controversy. Battery Actual physical violence, whether serious or minor, inflicted on a person. (A mere threat is called assault, whereas the completed act is called battery) Misdemeanor A minor offense, lower than a felony, which is punishable by a county jail term of up to one year and/or a fine, but not prison. Misdemeanors are classified into three categories: Class A, B, and C. Fraud An intentional perversion of truth; deceitful practice or device resorted to with intent to deprive another of property or other right. Allegation The assertion, declaration, or statement of a party to an action, made in a pleading, establishing what the party expects to prove. Levy A seizure; the obtaining of money by legal process through seizure and sale of property. Bench warrant An order issued by the court for the arrest of a person Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Methods of resolving disputes outside of official court proceedings. These methods include mediation arbitration, and conciliation.

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	Did You Know?
	Manslaughter is when a person recklessly causes the death of another Manslaughter - A person recklessly causes the death of another, or acting under extreme emotional disturbance, causes the death of another, or acting under circumstances when a person reasonably believes the circumstances provide a legal justification or excuse for his conduct constitutes manslaughter.