The Law Dictionary for Everyone
In the modern legal system, the term precedent refers to a rule, or principle of law, that has been established by a previous ruling by a court of higher authority, such as an appeals court, or a supreme court. Courts in the U.S. legal system place a high value on making judgments based on consistent rules in similar cases. In […]
Read moreIn its most basic definition, the term terrorism refers to any act that that is perpetrated for the purpose of causing terror. There is no universal definition as to just what acts are considered terrorism, but it is commonly considered to be an action that causes fear and/or harm for a political, ideological, religious, or economic objective. Acts of terrorism deliberately […]
Read moreTax evasion in a crime in which an individual or entity intentionally underpays, or avoids paying, taxes. Every year, each citizen who has income and/or assets is required to file a tax return. Each year many people misrepresent how much money they earned, and claim deductions to which they are not entitled in an effort to keep their money away […]
Read moreTheft is a criminal act that involves depriving a person of his property. The legal term theft is a very broad term in that it applies to a wide range of crimes, all of which consist of taking of someone’s property, with the intent of permanently depriving him of it. To explore this concept, consider the following theft definition. Definition […]
Read moreA public defender is a lawyer appointed to represent individuals accused of a crime, who are unable to hire an attorney for financial reasons. The U.S. Constitution affords all individuals the right to representation when charged with a crime. If an accused individual cannot afford to hire an attorney, and the state does not provide him with one, he cannot […]
Read moreProstitution meaning in law Prostitution is the criminal act of providing, or offering to provide, sexual services in exchange for compensation. Prostitution laws penalize those who sell sexual services, as well as those who purchase the services. Laws are also in place to punish those who arrange prostitution, or benefit from it in any way. To explore this concept, consider […]
Read moreRape is a crime in which sexual intercourse is committed without consent, through force, threats, or fearful intimidation. In most jurisdictions, the actual crime of rape requires actual sexual penetration. Some states however, have included non-consensual penetration by objects in their rape laws. To explore this concept, consider the following rape definition. Definition of Rape Noun Sexual intercourse with, or […]
Read moreIn its broadest definition, the term evidence refers to anything that is presented to prove something else is true or exists. In the legal system, evidence is any type of proof presented at trial, for the purpose of convincing the judge and/or jury that alleged facts of the case are true. This may include anything from witness testimony to documents, […]
Read moreProbation is a sentence handed down to offenders in lieu of jail time. While on probation, the offender is allowed to continue living in the community as long as he follows the terms and conditions outlined by the judge or the probation officer to which he is assigned. Probation is often reserved for first time offenders who commit non-violent crimes, […]
Read moreManslaughter is the unlawful killing of another human being that occurs when a person kills another, without intent, malice, or forethought. In other words, the killing must have been without prior thought to do harm, or must have occurred “in the heat of passion.” Manslaughter is considered a less culpable crime than murder in most states. To explore this concept, […]
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