Criminology Dictionary

Abandonment, a legal term, generally denotes a situation where an individual, in light of his legal...

Accountability in the context of criminology is a crucial concept that encompasses the mechanisms an...

Action, in the context of criminology, refers to any behavior or activity that violates the law and...

Actuarial justice is a concept in criminology that reflects a shift towards the application of risk...

The term 'actus reus,' originating from Latin, is used in the field of criminology to refer to the p...

Adjudication is a complex and multifaceted process that involves the formal determination of a perso...

Adjudicated father refers to a man whose legal status as a child's father has been determined throug...

Adjudication is a complex and multifaceted process that involves the formal determination of a perso...

Administrative criminology, a term originally introduced by criminologist Jock Young, encapsulates a...

Administrative documentation, a mouthful of a term, encompasses the multitude of forms and records t...

Administrative review is an intricate and vital process in criminology, serving as a watchdog to ens...

Admissibility is a concept in criminology that refers to whether or not evidence or testimony can be...

The convoluted legal labyrinth that is adoption is a process whereby a person or couple becomes the...

Adversarialism in the realm of criminal justice refers to a specific style of legal proceedings that...

The adversary system is a legal system where opposing parties - the prosecution and defense - battle...

An affidavit is a legal document that carries the weight of truth, as it is a written statement that...

An affirmative defense is a legal strategy utilized in criminology that can potentially absolve a de...

An affidavit is a written statement of fact that is made under oath or affirmation by the person mak...

Amicus Curiae, a Latin phrase meaning 'friend of the court,' refers to a person or organization that...

Anomie, originally coined by the French sociologist Emile Durkheim in the late 19th century and furt...

Anti-social behavior, as defined in law, refers to conduct that causes or is likely to cause harassm...

When a lower court makes a decision in a criminal case, either the defendant or the prosecution may...

Arraignment is a formal and crucial court proceeding that occurs shortly after a defendant's arrest,...

An arrest is a momentous event in the criminal justice system, whereby a person is taken into custod...

Assault, a heinous crime, refers to a threat or an attempt to cause bodily harm to another person. T...

Attesting is an intricately complex and legally consequential process that pertains to the act of co...

An attorney-at-law, also known as a lawyer, is a legal professional who is authorized to represent c...

Bail, in legal terms, is the temporary release of someone who has been accused of a crime but not ye...

Bail bonds are a type of surety bond that helps accused persons gain freedom from custody in exchang...

A bailiff, also known as a court officer, is a law enforcement professional whose duty is to maintai...

The mystical and elusive 'bar' is a term used to describe the legal profession's licensing requireme...

Battered woman syndrome, a term commonly used in criminology and psychology, refers to a highly debi...

Beyond reasonable doubt is a complicated legal standard that applies to criminal trials and is used...

A Bill of Particulars, a perplexing legal document in the realm of criminal law, is employed to disc...

Booking is a process in which a person who has been arrested by the police is officially processed a...

A brief is a written document that is submitted to a court by a legal representative, typically a la...

Brutalization is the perplexing process in which an individual who has been subjected to violence, t...

A capital crime is a grave offense that carries the ultimate punishment – death. The heinousness of...

Case law refers to a complex and convoluted set of legal decisions made by judges and courts in past...

Case records are a collection of papers and data that are meticulously maintained by criminal justic...

A caveat is a powerful tool that can be used to raise awareness and prevent potential legal mishaps....

Certification is a process that can put a juvenile offender in a legal limbo. This controversial pro...

Chambers refer to private rooms located within a courthouse or court building that are used by judge...

The term 'child abuse' refers to an array of reprehensible actions or omissions perpetrated by a par...

Child neglect is a complex issue that arises from a failure to provide for a child's basic needs. Th...

Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on inference and deduction to establish a fact, rath...

Civil commitment is a legal procedure that allows for the involuntary confinement and care of indivi...

The closing argument is the ultimate opportunity for an attorney to sway the judge or jury in a tria...

Common law refers to the legal system that has evolved over time through the decisions made by judge...

Competency is a term used to describe a defendant's ability to understand and actively engage in leg...

The term 'complainant' refers to an individual or group who initiates a complaint or accusation agai...

When it comes to legal proceedings, the term 'concur' can often stir up some confusion. But fear not...

This type of sentence is given when a defendant is found guilty of more than one crime and is given...

A confession is a remarkable and oftentimes controversial statement made by an individual who admits...

In the field of criminology, a decision refers to the ultimate determination or resolution made by a...

A consent search is an operation carried out by officers of the law with the voluntary authorization...

Conspiracy is a perplexing and intricate criminal offense that involves a group of individuals engag...

Contempt of court is a concept in the legal system that refers to a person's disobedience or lack of...

A continuance is a legal term that means putting off or delaying a court proceeding or trial to a la...

A conviction is the final outcome of a criminal case, where the defendant is found guilty of the cha...

Corpus delicti refers to the tangible evidence that shows a crime has been committed. The expression...

A court-martial is an intricate military court system that deals with members of the armed forces wh...

The Court of Appeals is a federal court that holds dominion over the review of decisions handed down...

A court order is a powerful legal instrument that can be used to compel individuals, organizations,...

The legal mechanism of criminal prosecution entails a labyrinthine process of charging and trying an...

In criminology, cross-examination is a dynamic and high-stakes process in which a witness who has pr...

A custody hearing is a complicated and emotionally charged legal proceeding that aims to decide the...

The perplexing realm of criminology encompasses a concept known as damages, which refers to a form o...

The Daubert test is a legal principle, established by a landmark case in the US Supreme Court called...

In the world of the law, a default judgment denotes a decision issued by a court against a party inv...

In the field of criminology, a defendant is an individual or a group of individuals who have been ac...

In criminology, a deposition is a legal procedure that occurs before a trial, in which a witness or...

Detention, a term commonly used in the field of law enforcement and justice, describes the act of ho...

The notion of diminished capacity is a legal defense that seeks to establish the defendant's mental...

In the legal system, evidence can be categorized in two distinct ways, namely direct and circumstant...

Direct examination is a crucial element in a trial or hearing, as it involves the questioning of a w...

Direct questions are a type of questioning used during a direct examination of a witness in court. W...

The process of discovery is an essential aspect of the criminal justice system. During discovery, th...

Dismissal, a legal term that denotes the termination of a criminal case prior to trial, can be due t...

Diversion refers to the process of diverting an accused offender out of the traditional criminal jus...

The concept of a docket can be described as a list of cases scheduled for a hearing or already heard...

Double jeopardy is a legal concept in criminology that prevents an individual from being prosecuted...

A dying declaration is a legal term used in criminal cases to describe a statement made by an indivi...

The concept of an 'element of a crime' can be a perplexing one, as it involves a variety of componen...

Entrapment is a controversial legal defense that arises when law enforcement officials induce an ind...

Evidentiary standards refer to the level of evidence required to prove guilt in a criminal case. Sev...

An ex-parte order is a legal decision that a judge or magistrate can make in the absence of one of t...

The exclusionary rule, a well-known legal principle in the United States, is highly complex and cont...

Exigent circumstances is a legal term that describes some serious and pressing situations that requi...

Expert testimony is a legal concept that involves the testimony given by an expert witness, who poss...

Expert witnesses are a key element of the legal system, bringing their specialized knowledge, skills...

The concept of 'expunge' pertains to the act of removing or deleting criminal records from the publi...

Extradition is the process by which one country or jurisdiction hands over a person who has been acc...

A heinous crime that could land one in jail for over a year is called a felony. These are way more s...

The illicit operation of fencing involves the purchase and sale of pilfered goods by an individual o...

Fraud is an illicit activity characterized by deceiving or misrepresenting information for personal...

The Frye standard is a legal doctrine that perplexes even the most seasoned of attorneys. It's an ev...

The Frye test, also known as the Frye standard, is a rule of evidence used in some U.S. jurisdiction...

A gag order is a legal order that bars parties involved in a legal case from disclosing specific det...

The Gault decision, a momentous ruling by the US Supreme Court in 1967, centers around the case of a...

Habeas corpus, a complex and critical legal term, refers to a court order, often dubbed as the 'Grea...

A hearing is a legal proceeding in which evidence and arguments are presented before a court or admi...

Hearsay, a legal term, refers to an out-of-court statement that someone other than the witness who i...

The hearsay rule, a fundamental legal principle, generally precludes the presentation of hearsay evi...

A holographic document, a type of document entirely handwritten and signed by the author, can be a c...

A hostile witness is an irritable individual summoned by a party but who seems to have a bone to pic...

Immunity is a complex legal concept that can take on different forms and have varying implications d...

In the legal system, inadmissible evidence is any form of evidence that is prohibited from being use...

The notion of incompetence is a perplexing topic that involves a defendant's inability to actively p...

An indeterminate sentence is a form of sentencing that allows for a range of prison time rather than...

An infraction is a minor offense that doesn't usually result in imprisonment but can lead to a fine...

An injunction is this thing that a court can order, and it makes someone either do or not do a speci...

Interrogatories are a formal set of written questions that one party in a legal case sends to anothe...

Judicial review is the power of the courts to evaluate and review the constitutionality of laws or a...

Jurisdiction, in the legal context, pertains to the court's legal power to hear and settle a case. I...

Justice is a multifaceted concept that involves the just and unbiased treatment of individuals who h...

The term 'juvenile' refers to individuals who haven't reached the age of 18 and are classified as mi...

The labyrinthine and intricate juvenile court system is a unique court system that is designated for...

A leading question is a type of question that is designed to influence or prompt a particular respon...

Legal custody is a term with a multitude of meanings, depending on the specific context in which it...

Liable is a complex legal term that indicates a degree of responsibility or culpability for a crimin...

Litigation, an intricate legal procedure, involves resolving a conflict between parties through a co...

The M'Naghten rule is a legal concept that aims to determine whether a defendant is legally insane a...

The term 'malfeasance' is a legal term that refers to the deliberate or intentional commission of an...

Malpractice, a term commonly used in the legal and medical fields, refers to any sort of wrongful or...

Mass murder is a gruesome and heinous act that involves the intentional killing of four or more peop...

In criminology, mens rea is a Latin term that refers to the mental state or intention of a person wh...

The Miranda warning, aka Miranda rights, is a legal spiel spouted by police officers in the USA to c...

A misdemeanor is a type of criminal offense that falls between an infraction and a felony in terms o...

A mistrial is a legal term that denotes a trial that has come to an unexpected halt before a verdict...

Mitigating circumstance refers to a factor that can lessen the severity of a crime, thereby reducing...

Mootness is a legal term that describes the state of being irrelevant or impossible to resolve in a...

A motion, a formal written application filed in court by an attorney or party to a case, is a versat...

In legal proceedings, an objection is a formal statement or challenge made by an attorney or party t...

An omnibus hearing, also known as a status hearing, pretrial conference, or discovery hearing, is a...

An opening statement is a critical part of a trial, in which the prosecution or defense presents an...

Opinions are subjective statements or judgments expressed by a witness or expert in a criminal case....

Order is a term that indicates an authoritative decision made by a legal figure, such as a judge or...

An order to show cause is a legally binding command that compels a party to a case to make a court a...

The word 'overrule' is a term that frequently arises in legal proceedings, with a multifaceted meani...

A pardon is a powerful act of forgiveness granted by a government authority that wipes the slate cle...

Physical evidence is a term used to refer to any tangible object that can be presented in court as p...

Plain view is a legal principle that enables law enforcement officers to seize evidence and contraba...

The plaintiff, in the labyrinthine world of law, is the entity that sets the wheels of justice in mo...

Entering a plea is a crucial aspect of any criminal case, where the defendant responds to the charge...

Plea bargaining is an intricate legal process that involves the negotiation of criminal charges betw...

A pre-trial conference, a legal powwow that transpires before a criminal trial, is a forum where the...

The preliminary hearing is an intense and pivotal legal proceeding held before a trial that examines...

The term 'preponderance of evidence' may sound like a mouthful, but it's actually a pretty straightf...

Presumptions in criminal cases are legal assumptions made about a certain fact or set of facts. They...

In criminology, 'prima facie' refers to evidence that, at first sight, appears sufficient to prove a...

'Prima facie evidence' is an intriguing legal term that refers to the evidence that is apparently su...

Probable cause is a legal standard that law enforcement officials must meet before they can lawfully...

The prosecutor is an individual trained in law who acts as the government's representative in crimin...

Officials are granted the legal power of protective custody, which allows them to detain and confine...

Public defenders are a group of legal professionals whose primary task is to represent defendants wh...

The term 'putative father' is used to refer to a man who is believed to be the biological father of...

Quid pro quo is a term used to describe a situation in which one party provides goods, services, or...

In the field of criminology, raw data refers to unprocessed, unanalyzed, and unmodified information...

In the criminal justice system, there is a crucial stage of questioning known as re-direct examinati...

The legal principle of burden of proof dictates that in a criminal trial, it is up to the prosecutio...

The term 'reasonable suspicion' is a legal standard used by police officers to justify stopping and...

Rebuttal is the presentation of evidence or arguments by one party to challenge the evidence or argu...

Recess, the temporary cessation of legal proceedings or trial, is a much-needed and sometimes unpred...

The term 'record' in the context of criminal cases refers to a collection of various pieces of evide...

Recross refers to the complex and challenging third stage of questioning that can occur during cross...

In the legal realm, redirect questioning is a crucial part of cross-examination. Once the opposing c...

Regulatory offenses, in the field of criminology, are a category of non-criminal violations that per...

Rehabilitation, within the context of criminology, is an approach to the treatment and reformation o...

'Release on recognizance' (ROR), or 'own recognizance' (OR), is a legal maneuver that allows a defen...

In the field of criminology, reliability refers to the consistency, stability, and dependability of...

Reparation, in the field of criminology, refers to a process or approach that seeks to address the h...

Representation, in the context of criminology, refers to the portrayal and depiction of crime, crimi...

Res gestae is a term originating from Latin, which signifies 'things done.' In the legal field, part...

When one is engaged in a legal dispute, the term 'rest' can have a significant meaning. It signifies...

In criminology, retribution is a fundamental concept in the philosophy of punishment that emphasizes...

In criminology, 'retributive' pertains to a philosophy of justice and punishment that focuses on the...

Robbery, an egregious criminal offense, involves an individual using force, threat, or intimidation...

The rules of evidence are a complex and multifaceted set of guidelines and principles that dictate t...

Scientific racism is a term used within the field of criminology to describe a discredited and harmf...

The intricate and multifaceted legal concept of 'search and seizure' is a crucial component of crimi...

Secondary definers are individuals or groups that influence the perception and understanding of crim...

In the world of criminology, self-actualization refers to a concept deeply rooted in understanding h...

Sentence refers to the punishment or penalty that is imposed on an individual who has been found gui...

The act of sentencing denotes the judicial process of imposing a penalty or punishment on an individ...

Sequestration of witnesses in the field of criminology is a complex and controversial practice, char...

In criminology, simplification refers to the process of reducing complex theories, concepts, or data...

In criminology, social formation refers to the complex and dynamic structure of a society or communi...

Social structures, within the field of criminology, refer to the overarching, organized patterns and...

Spatial criminology is a specialized subfield within criminology that focuses on the spatial dimensi...

Spatial patterns, within the field of criminology, refer to the geographical distribution and arrang...

Species justice is a concept within the field of criminology that underscores the need for fairness,...

Speciesism is a concept that draws attention to discriminatory practices and biases based on species...

State-organized crime, within the field of criminology, refers to illicit activities that are orches...

The statute of limitations in criminology refers to the time limit within which a criminal prosecuti...

In the realm of criminology, a stereotype refers to a generalized and often oversimplified belief or...

In criminology, a stipulation is a legal agreement between the prosecution and defense in a criminal...

Street crime, within the field of criminology, is the term used to describe a category of criminal a...

In the field of criminology, Structural Marxism is a theoretical framework that offers a socio-econo...

In criminology, a subculture refers to a distinct group or community within a larger society that ex...

In the field of criminology, a subpoena is a legal instrument that commands an individual to either...

In criminology, a subpoena duces tecum is a legal document that orders a person to produce documents...

Subrogation is a legal term in criminology that grants an individual or an organization the ability...

Suite crime, also known as white-collar crime, is a term in criminology that refers to non-violent,...

Summary judgment in criminology is a legal tactic that can be used to terminate a criminal case with...

Summary judgment is a legal term that can be a game-changer in civil cases. This process allows the...

Summonses are a legal instrument used in criminology to order an individual to appear in court or fa...

In criminology, a suppression hearing is a legal proceeding in which a judge determines whether cert...

In the field of criminology, surveys are a valuable research method used to gather systematic and st...

In the context of criminology, a 'symbiotic relationship' represents a dynamic and often intricate c...

In the realm of criminology and psychology, 'temperament' refers to an individual's innate and endur...

In the realm of criminology and criminal justice, 'temporal patterns' refer to the intricate and oft...

Testimony in criminology refers to the statements given by witnesses, victims, or other parties invo...

Within the realm of criminology and sociology, 'the carceral' signifies a multifaceted and thought-p...

In criminology, 'the unfinished' is an evocative term that alludes to the ongoing and complex nature...

Within the field of genetics and biotechnology, a 'transgenic organism' represents a fascinating and...

In psychology and criminology, the term 'trauma' means the profound and often enduring psychological...

In the context of criminology, victimization refers to the process by which an individual or group s...

White-collar crime is a term within criminology that refers to non-violent, financially motivated of...

In the field of criminology, a writ refers to a formal order from a court or other judicial body tha...

Zemiology, a term rooted in the realm of criminology, delves into the study of social harm and the s...