Glossary of Legal Terms

To be charged with a crime (verb); the defendant in a criminal case (noun)

• evidence

• accused

• felony

• intent

the act of forcing someone to stay where he or she does not want to be

• forcible detention

• burglary

• battery

• fraud

the intent or plan to hurt another person or their property; a threat of violence

• burglary

• breaking and entering

• indictment

• assault

the person who is accused of breaking the law

• defendant

• jury

• prosecutor

• witness

the act of carrying out a plan to deceive or trick another person, resulting in the loss of money or something valuable.

• child abandonment

• fraud

• intent

• theft

to question a witness after he or she has been questioned by the prosecuting lawyer or the defending lawyer.

• indict

• summons

• cross-examine

• testify

data, information, facts and physical things that show or prove something happened.

• evidence

• battery

• intent

• verdict

the act of taking someone else's child

• kidnapping

• child abduction

• felony

• indict

a serious crime, such as murder or robbery.

• misdemeanor

• evidence

• felony

• summons

the act of physical contact or violent attack to a person

• kidnapping

• fraud

• felony

• battery