Criminology Term: Interrogatories
Interrogatories are a formal set of written questions that one party in a legal case sends to another party, who is required to answer them in writing and under oath.
They are commonly used in civil cases, including those related to criminal law, such as personal injury cases or wrongful death suits.
Interrogatories are part of the discovery process, which is a pretrial procedure used to obtain evidence and information from the opposing party. They are designed to cover a wide range of topics related to the case, including facts, witnesses, and evidence.
Responding to interrogatories is a legal obligation, and the responding party must answer truthfully and to the best of their knowledge. Failure to answer interrogatories may result in sanctions or other penalties, including the striking of pleadings or the entry of judgment against the non-responsive party.
Interrogatories can be a valuable tool for parties to a case to obtain information and evidence that can be used to support their claims or defenses.
As such, they are an important aspect of the legal system and are carefully monitored to ensure that they are used ethically and fairly.
