The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The term criminal mischief refers to the crime of damaging another person’s property. Governed by state laws, the offense also involves the defacement, destruction, or alteration of property with criminal intent. Criminal mischief examples include vandalism and graffiti. To explore this concept, consider the following criminal mischief definition. Definition of Criminal Mischief Noun The damage, defacement, destruction, or alternation of […]
Read moreThe term “felonious assault,” or “assault with a dangerous weapon,” is the act of attacking another person with a weapon that could inflict serious injury or death. For example, felonious assault occurs when someone points a gun at someone, or threatens to stab him with a knife. To “assault” someone means to cause them to feel an immediate fear that […]
Read moreThe term “seizure,” in the legal sense, can mean two things. Seizure examples can include the legal or forceful taking of something, such as evidence from a crime scene. Another seizure example is the act of physically overtaking or removing a person or object. To explore this concept, consider the following seizure definition. Definition of Seizure Noun The act of […]
Read moreThe term “looting” refers to the stealing of goods, usually during a war or a riot and often following a natural disaster. For example, looting often occurs in the aftermath following a hurricane. In flooded areas, looters steal items like electronics from vacant stores because there is no one around to supervise the store and prevent thieves from stealing. To […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Kentucky v. King, 563 U.S. 452 (2011) Case Summary of Kentucky v. King: Police officers follows a suspect into an apartment complex and lost sight of him. They smelled marijuana outside an apartment door, knocked loudly, and announced their presence. Upon hearing noises consistent with the destruction of evidence, the officers announced their intention […]
Read moreThe term blackmail describes the act of threatening to make someone suffer in some way unless they meet certain demands. Generally, it involves the threat of revealing embarrassing or damaging information about a person in order to coerce them to do something. Classified as a criminal offense, it a form of extortion. To explore the concept, consider the following blackmail […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, 403 U.S. 528 (1971) Case Summary of McKeiver v. Pennsylvania: A number of juveniles in Pennsylvania and North Carolina were adjudicated delinquent on charges that would be criminal offenses if committed by an adult. The courts in all of the cases denied the juveniles a jury trial. The Supreme Courts of […]
Read moreMisappropriation Meaning in Law The term “misappropriation” refers to the stealing of something, usually money, that was not meant for the thief, but which he used for his own personal gain. For example, misappropriation occurs when the CEO of a nonprofit organization uses monies meant for charity to pay for a luxurious vacation for himself. Another word for misappropriation […]
Read moreThe term “sexual misconduct” refers to any conduct which is sexual in nature and which is unwelcome and engaged in without consent. For example, this type of misconduct can refer to everything from unwanted groping to rape. A person can be guilty of sexual misconduct whether male or female, and such wrongdoing can even occur between two members of the […]
Read moreThe term “recognizance” refers to an obligation the court enters that holds an individual to a particular condition. For example, recognizance refers to the court agreeing not to imprison a defendant, so long as he agrees to attend supervised probation in its place. Other ways of describing a recognizance include “a release on one’s own recognizance (ROR),” “own recognizance (OR)” […]
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