CRIMINAL LAW VOCABULARY

An accusation charging a person with a public offense presented by a grand jury is called an

• affidavit

• indictment

• information

A motion by a criminal defendant that requests details concerning the offense charged.

• No Contest

• Information

• Bill of particulars

The original pleading by which an action is filed in court.

• Complaint

• Arraignment

• Plea bargaining

Security given for the release of a jailed person that guarantees his or her attendance at all required court.

• Court order

• Security bond

• Bail

Any offense punishable by imprisonment or death for a term exceeding one year. A Major offense!

• Felony

• True bill

• Grand Jury

In the criminal law, a finding of not guilty.

• Arraignment

• Acquittal

• True bill

The means by which a criminal defendant, after exhausting appellate remedies, seeks to attack the conditions of his/her confinement or otherwise indirectly attack his/her conviction.

• Appellate attack

• Collateral attack

• plea bargaining

The actual restraint of a person for submission to custody.

• Arrest

• Acquittal

• Bail

A felony case punishable by death.

• Surety

• True bill

• Capital case

Written guaranty executed by a defendant and a surety to ensure the defendant will appear and make him/herself available to the court.

• Bail bond

• Complaint

• Bill of Particulars