Legal Definitions
Arraignment: Court hearing in which the defendant pleads guilty, not guilty, or not guilty by reason of insanity. This is the next scheduled court appearance after a preliminary hearing in cases where the defendant is entitled to a preliminary hearing. Witnesses do not testify at this hearing.
Bond: Money or property that is promised or given to the Court to ensure that a defendant will make scheduled court appearances if he or she is released from jail.
Compensation: A program to help pay for medical or funeral expenses, mental health therapy or lost wages for victims of violent crime. A police report must be made. You must apply for these funds. Please call (303)271-6846 for information.
Continuance: When a court hearing is delayed and rescheduled.
Defendant: A person who is accused of committing a crime.
Disposition: When a case is resolved without a trial.
Filing of Charges: Presentation of written charges to the Clerk of the Court by the District Attorney's Office. The document is called a complaint or an information.
Motions Hearing: A hearing where the judge decides what evidence will be allowed at trial.
No Contact Order: A condition of bond that means a defendant cannot have contact with a victim by phone, letter, through a third party or in a person.
Plea Negotiations: A defendant pleads guilty to a charge or a lesser charge in return for a sentence which may be less than if convicted of all charges at trial.
Preliminary Hearing: A hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial. This is the first hearing when witnesses may have to testify.
Pretrial Conference: A meeting of the Deputy District Attorney, defendant and defense attorney to discuss possible plea negotiations.
Probation: The release, under certain proscribed terms and conditions, of a person convicted of a crime as an alternative to imprisonment.
Restitution: After conviction, a defendant can be ordered to pay the victim for "out of pocket" financial losses.
Sentence: The penalty which is given by a judge to a defendant upon conviction of a crime.
Subpoena: An order to come to court, which is mailed to the witness or personally delivered.
Trial: An examination of issues of fact and law before a judge or a jury. Evidence is presented by the prosecution and the defense to help the jury or the court to determine whether or not the defendant is guilty of committing a specific crime.
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Last Modified: Mar 28, 2009 10:19 PM
