The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The legal term possession refers to the control an individual or entity intentionally exercises toward something. An individual may have possession of any item, whether tangible or intangible, though possession of a thing does not necessarily mean ownership. To explore this concept, consider the following possession definition. Definition of Possession Noun The act or state of possessing something The actual […]
Read morePornography refers to material or representations designed to arouse or give sexual pleasure to the individual who reads, see, hears, or handles it. What is considered to be pornography is in constant flux, as society’s view of what is social acceptable, and what is considered vulgar or immoral changes. To explore this concept, consider the following pornography definition. Definition of […]
Read moreIn general terms, a plea is a serious, urgent, and emotional request for something. The legal term plea refers to an individual’s answer to a legal declaration or legal charge. In a criminal court case, the defendant’s plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest, is his formal response to the charges against him. To explore this concept, consider the […]
Read morePerjury is the act of intentionally lying, or telling an untruth, whether verbally or in writing, while under oath in an official proceeding. The act of perjury is only considered a crime under certain specific circumstances, the details of which vary by jurisdiction. The courts view perjury as a serious offense, as lying and misrepresenting facts given in testimony, effectively […]
Read moreParole is the conditional release of an inmate prior to the completion of his prison sentence, after he agrees to follow very specific rules and regulations. While an individual released on parole is considered to have served his sentence, he risks being returned to prison to finish the prison term if he fails to follow the specific conditions set, or […]
Read moreA pardon is a governmental decision to absolve an individual for a criminal conviction, often times freeing him from all or part of the punishment imposed at sentencing. Pardons are typically granted by the President, or by individual state governors, usually to absolve individuals, but may be granted, in certain circumstances, for groups of people. Federal pardons are granted by […]
Read moreThe legal term no contest is a plea made by a defendant in court when he does not contest a particular criminal charge against him. While a no contest plea is not necessarily an admission of guilt, it is treated as such by the court, and the defendant is sentenced as though he has been convicted of the crime. A […]
Read moreBy strict definition, pandering is the act of providing what someone else needs or requires. As it relates to the law, pandering is the act of recruiting prostitutes, and soliciting clients for prostitutes. Pandering is illegal, as is prostitution, in all states, save for portions of Nevada. In many jurisdictions, the words pandering and “pimping” are used interchangeably, as both […]
Read moreThe term incest refers to any sexual activity that takes place between non-spouse family members or close relatives. Incest is illegal in the United States and many other countries around the world. Incest laws are intended to protect the security of the family, and to prevent the genetic defects that typically occur when babies are born of parents too closely […]
Read moreThe term mail fraud refers to any scheme carried out in a fraudulent manner, with the intent of depriving another person of his or her property, or “honest services,” via the U.S. Postal Service, or any other interstate mail carrier. Since 1872, the crime of mail fraud has been classified as a federal offense in the United States, and carries […]
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