The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The legal term aiding and abetting refers to a person’s action to help, support, or approve of someone else’s illegal act. Aiding and abetting is a crime in itself, held against those who would somehow assist a criminal – short of physically contributing to the illegal act. In many jurisdictions, aiding and abetting is the same as an “accessory” to […]
Read moreIn a legal sense, the term predicate means to base something, such as a fact, statement, or action, on another thing. For instance, a person may agree to give a crate of baseball bats to the local little league, predicated on (or based on) a parent’s withdrawal of a lawsuit. The term is also used in criminal law, as a […]
Read moreThe term phishing refers to the act of fraudulently acquiring someone’s personal and private information, such as online account names, login information, and passwords. This information may then be used to steal money, order products using the victim’s credit cards, and otherwise defraud the victim. Phishing is accomplished through online means, meaning through the use of email, social media, and […]
Read moreThe term narcotic refers to any medication or drug that tends to dull the senses, such as opioids, anti-anxiety medications, and marijuana. In a law enforcement context, the term has taken on an inaccurate definition with negative connotations, as it is used to signify any drug or substance that cannot be legally transported, sold, or possessed. These include such substances […]
Read moreThe term liability refers to a broad spectrum of things a person may be held responsible for. This may be a legal liability, a financial liability, or other responsibility. An example of liability includes the legal obligation to pay a debt, or to pay for damages an individual has caused someone else. Liabilities are also counted in finances as debits […]
Read moreIntoxication, or substance intoxication, is the state of being inebriated or drunk. Examples of intoxication include alcohol intoxication, cocaine intoxication, and intoxication by inhaling fumes. The state of being intoxicated is often referred to in such slang terms as being “wasted,” “sloshed,” “stoned,” “high,” or “blazed” (the last three referring to cannabis [marijuana] intoxication). Intoxication is often graded in slang […]
Read moreHate speech is talk that attacks an individual or a specific group based on a protected attribute such as the target’s sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, color, or country of origin. Some countries consider hate speech to be a crime, because it encourages discrimination, intimidation, and violence toward the group or individual being targeted. Hate speech has been a topic […]
Read moreHazing is the act of forcing someone to go through humiliating or abusive activities in order to initiate them into a group. Hazing is particularly common in sororities, fraternities, and military groups, among others. The activities involved with hazing can range from mild, harmless pranks, to behavior for which its perpetrators can be deemed criminally liable. To explore this concept, […]
Read moreEntrapment refers to the actions of a law enforcement official that persuade or encourage a person to engage in an illegal act, which he would otherwise have been unlikely to commit. A person charged with a crime he believes a police officer, or other law enforcement official, convinced him to commit, may claim he was “entrapped,” or caught in a […]
Read moreHarassment is the act of continued and regular unwanted actions against a victim. This may include anything from racial epithets to annoying or malicious remarks, but must become a pattern in order to qualify as harassment. Harassment is illegal and a victim can file for a restraining order against the perpetrator. To explore this concept, consider the following harassment definition. […]
Read more