definitions

Assault - The touching of another person with an intent to harm, without that person's consent.

Confession - A statement made by a person suspected or charged with a crime, that he (or she) did, in fact, commit that crime.

Consent - Intelligent, knowing, and voluntary consent and does not include coerced submission.  Does not mean the failure by the alleged victim to offer physical resistance to the offender.

Conviction - The formal decision of a criminal trial which finds the accused guilty.  It is the finding of a judge or jury, on behalf of the state, that a person has, beyond reasonable doubt, committed the crime for which he, or she, has been accused.  It is the ultimate goal of the prosecution and the result resisted by the defense.  Once convicted, an accused may then be sentenced.

DNA - Abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid.  A chromosome molecule which carries genetic coding unique to each person with the only exception of identical twins (that is why it is also called "DNA fingerprinting").  Through laboratory process, DNA can be extracted from body tissue such as a strand of hair, semen, blood and matched against DNA discovered at a crime scene or on a victim to scientifically implicate an accused.

Evidence - Proof of fact(s) presented at a trial.  The best and most common method is by oral testimony; where you have an eye-witness swear to tell the truth and to then relate to the court (or jury) their experience.  Evidence is essential in convincing the judge or jury of your facts as the judge (or jury) is expected to start off with a blank slate; no preconceived idea or knowledge of the facts.  So it is up to the opposing parties to prove (by providing evidence), to the satisfaction of the court (or jury), the facts needed to support their case.  Besides oral testimony, an object can be deposited with the court (e.g.. a signed contract).  This is sometimes called "real evidence."

Guardian - An individual who, by legal appointment or by the effect of a written law, is given custody of both the property and the person of one who is unable to manage their own affairs, such as a child or mentally-disabled person.

Habitual offender - A person who is convicted and sentenced for crimes over a period of time and even after serving sentences of incarceration, such as demonstrates a propensity towards criminal conduct.  Reformation techniques fail to alter the behavior of the habitual offender.  Many countries now have special laws that require the long-term incarceration, without parole, of habitual offenders as a means of protecting society in the face of an individual that appears unable to comply with the law.

Harassment - Unsolicited words or conduct which tend to annoy, alarm or abuse another person.

Injunction - A court order that prohibits a party from doing something (restrictive injunction) or compels them to do something (mandatory injunction).

Jury - A group of citizens randomly selected from the general population and brought together to assist justice by deciding which version, in their opinion, constitutes "the truth" given different evidence by opposing parties.

Mentally defective - A mental disease or defect which renders a person temporarily or permanently incapable of appraising the nature of his or her conduct.

Mentally incapacitated - Temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling a person's own conduct due to the influence of a narcotic, anesthetic, or intoxicating substance administered without his or her consent or due to any other act committed upon that person without his or her consent.

Minor - A person who is legally underage.  It varies between 21 and 18 years of age.  Each state sets an age threshold at which time a person is invested with all legal rights as an adult.  For many new adults, this may mean access to places serving alcohol and the right to purchase and consume alcohol, smoke cigarettes and drive a car.  But there are many other legal rights which a minor does not have such as, in some states, the right to own land, to sign a contract or to get married.

Pedophile - A person afflicted with "pedophilia", a sexual perversion in which children are preferred as a sexual partner.

Physically helpless - Unconscious, asleep, or for any other reason physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act.

Physically incapacitated - Bodily impaired or handicapped and substantially limited in ability to resist or flee.

Rape - Oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object.  Does not include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose.

Sexual harassment - A term used in human rights legislation and referring primarily to harassment in employment and school situations, related to sex or gender, which detrimentally affects the working environment.  The most overt variation of sexual harassment is the quid pro quo offer of work-favor, or grade-favor, in exchange for sexual favor.

Verdict - The decision of a jury.  In criminal cases, this is usually expressed as "guilty" or "not guilty".  In a civil case, the verdict would be a finding for the plaintiff or for the defendant.