Adjudication -
The formal giving or pronouncing of a judgment or decree in a cause; also the judgment given. The entry of a decree by a court in respect to the parties in a case. It implies a hearing by a court, after notice, of legal evidence on the factual issue involved. The equivalent of a "determination." And contemplates that the claims of all the parties thereto have been considered and set at rest.

Arrest Warrant -
A written order which is made on behalf of the state and is based upon a complaint issued pursuant to statute and/or court rule and which commands law enforcement officer to arrest a person and bring him before the magistrate.

Bench Warrant -
Process issued by the court itself, or "from the bench," for the attachment or arrest of a person; either in case of contempt, or where an indictment has been found, or to bring in a witness who does not obey the subpoena.

Capias -
"That you take." The general name for several species of writs, the common characteristic of which is that they require the officer to take the body of the defendant into custody.

Conviction -
In a general sense, the result of a criminal trial which ends in a judgment or sentence that the accused is guilty as charged. The final consummation of the prosecution including the judgment or sentence, or, as is frequently the case, the judgment or sentence itself. The stage of a criminal proceeding where the issue of guilty is determined. "Conviction" and "convicted" mean the final judgment on a verdict or finding of guilty, a plea of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere, and do not include a final judgment which has been expunged by pardon, reversed, set aside, or otherwise rendered nugatory.

Disposition -
In criminal procedure, the sentencing or other final settlement of a criminal case.

Expunge -
To destroy; blot out; obliterate; erase; efface designedly; strike out wholly. The act of physically destroying information MN including criminal records MN in files, computers, or other depositories.

Felony -
A crime of a graver or more serious nature than those designated as misdemeanors; e.g. aggravated assault (felony) as contrasted with simple assault (misdemeanor). Under federal law, and many state statutes, any offense punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

Forfeiture of bond -
A failure to perform the condition upon which obligor was to be excused from the penalty in the bond. With respect to a bail bond, occurs when the accused fails to appear for trial.

Misdemeanor -
Offenses lower than felonies and generally those punishable by fine or imprisonment, other than in a penitentiary. Under federal law, and most state laws, any offense other than a felony is classified as a misdemeanor.

Nolle Prossed (nolle prosequi) -
A formal entry upon the record, by the plaintiff in a civil suit, or , more commonly, by the prosecuting officer in a criminal action, by which he declares that he "will no further prosecute" the case, either as to some of the defendants, or altogether. A nolle prosequi is a formal entry on the record by the prosecuting officer by which he declares that he will not prosecute the case further. Commonly called "nol pros".

Nolo Contendere -
Latin phrase meaning, "I will not contest it"; a plea in a criminal case which has a similar legal effect as pleading guilty. Type of plea which may be entered with leave of court to a criminal complaint or indictment by which the defendant does not admit or deny the charges, though a fine or sentence may be imposed pursuant to it. The principal difference between a plea of guilty and a plea of nolo contendere is that the latter may not by used against the defendant in a civil action based upon the same acts. As such, this plea is particularly popular in antitrust actions (e.g. price fixing) where the likelihood of a civil action following in the wake of a successful antitrust prosecution is very great.

Probation -
A system of permitting a person convicted of a crime to go free with a suspended sentence, subject to the supervision of a probation officer. It differs from parole in that is does not follow early release from prison but is a substitute for a prison sentence, contingent upon good behavior.

Remand -
To send back. The sending by the appellate court of the cause back to the same court out of which it came, for purpose of having some further action taken on it there. When a prisoner is brought before a judge on habeas corpus, for the purpose of obtaining liberty, the judge hears the case, and either discharges him or remands him.

Stricken Off/Strike Off -
A court is said to "strike off" a case when it directs the removal of the case from the record or docket, as being one over which it has no jurisdiction and no power to hear and determine it.

Work Release Program -
Correctional programs which allow an inmate to leave the institution for the purpose of continuing regular employment during the daytime, but reporting back to lockup nights and weekends.

Theft -
A popular name for larceny. The taking of property without the owner's consent. The fraudulent taking of personal property belonging to another, from his possession, or from the possession of some person holding the same for him, without his consent, with intent to deprive the owner of the value of the same, and to appropriate it to the use or benefit of the person taking. It is also said that theft is a wider term than larceny. It includes swindling and embezzlement, and that generally, one who obtained possession of property by unlawful means and, thereafter, appropriate the property to the taker's own use guilty of a "theft". Theft is any of the following acts done with intent to deprive the owner permanently of the possession, use or benefit of his property (a) obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over property; or (b) obtaining by deception control over property; or (c) obtaining by theft control over property; or (d) obtaining control over stolen property knowing the property to have been stolen by another

Deception -
The act of deceiving; intentional misleading by falsehood spoken or acted. Synonymous with fraud. Knowingly and willfully making a false statement or representation, express or implied, pertaining to a present or past existing fact.

Probation without Verdict (PWV) -
Permitting a person charged with a crime to go free with supervision of a probation officer for specific period of time. If they abide by the terms, no verdict is handed down

Cumulative Sentence -
A sentence that takes effect after a prior sentence is completed for crimes tried under the same cause of action

Deferred Sentence -
Postponement of the pronouncement of the sentence

Dismissal -
A disposing of the cause without further consideration; may be voluntary or involuntary; if involuntary, there is usually a lack of prosecution or failure to produce sufficient evidence

No Bill -
The decision by a grand jury that it will not bring indictment against the accused on the basis of the allegations and evidence presented by the prosecutor

Suspended Sentence -
Deferment of punishment usually over a period of probation