Adult System Definitions
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD): A special form of probation. When successfully completed the defendant’s conviction is erased.
Arraignment: The defendant’s appearance to enter a plea for the charges against him/her.
Capias: A warrant that is issued when a defendant does not appear in court.
Conviction: The finding, by a jury or judge, of a verdict of “guilty” against the defendant.
Defendant: The person accused of committing the crime(s).
Plea: The answer that the defendant makes to the charges brought against him/her: Guilty, Not Guilty, No Contest.
Preliminary Hearing: A hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute an accused person.
Probation: A sentence in which the defendant is released into the community and supervised by a probation officer for a specified period of time.
Restitution: Repayment of financial loss to the victim by the defendant.
Sentence: The defendant’s punishment imposed by the judge.
Subpoena: A document ordering a person to appear in court.
Victim Impact Statement: A statement submitted by the victim to the Court that explains the physical, psychological, and financial harm the crime created.
Waive: To surrender a privilege or right.
Arraignment: The defendant’s appearance to enter a plea for the charges against him/her.
Capias: A warrant that is issued when a defendant does not appear in court.
Conviction: The finding, by a jury or judge, of a verdict of “guilty” against the defendant.
Defendant: The person accused of committing the crime(s).
Plea: The answer that the defendant makes to the charges brought against him/her: Guilty, Not Guilty, No Contest.
Preliminary Hearing: A hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute an accused person.
Probation: A sentence in which the defendant is released into the community and supervised by a probation officer for a specified period of time.
Restitution: Repayment of financial loss to the victim by the defendant.
Sentence: The defendant’s punishment imposed by the judge.
Subpoena: A document ordering a person to appear in court.
Victim Impact Statement: A statement submitted by the victim to the Court that explains the physical, psychological, and financial harm the crime created.
Waive: To surrender a privilege or right.
Juvenile System Definitions
Accountability: Being held responsible for the incident and the harm caused.
Adjudication: A fact finding hearing that determines if a juvenile committed the act as charged.
Consent Decree: A form of probation that will result in an expunged record if the probation is completed successfully.
Continuance: Rescheduling a hearing to a later date.
De-Certification Hearing: A hearing to determine whether a case should be moved from the adult system to the juvenile system.
Detention: A temporary, secure holding facility for the juvenile.
Founded: The court finds the juvenile to have committed the act as charged.
Home Pass: When a juvenile is allowed to leave a placement facility for a short period of time.
Placement /Institution: A program or facility where a juvenile is sent to receive treatment.
Placement Review: A hearing that reviews the juvenile’s adjustment to the treatment.
Probation: Supervision of a juvenile in the community.
Record Expunged: Record erased.
Restitution: Repayment of financial loss to the victim by the juvenile.
Shelter: A temporary, non-secure holding facility.
Transfer Hearing: A hearing to determine whether a case should be moved from the juvenile system to the adult system.
Victim Impact Statement: A statement submitted by the victim to the Court that explains the physical, psychological, and financial harm the crime created.
Adjudication: A fact finding hearing that determines if a juvenile committed the act as charged.
Consent Decree: A form of probation that will result in an expunged record if the probation is completed successfully.
Continuance: Rescheduling a hearing to a later date.
De-Certification Hearing: A hearing to determine whether a case should be moved from the adult system to the juvenile system.
Detention: A temporary, secure holding facility for the juvenile.
Founded: The court finds the juvenile to have committed the act as charged.
Home Pass: When a juvenile is allowed to leave a placement facility for a short period of time.
Placement /Institution: A program or facility where a juvenile is sent to receive treatment.
Placement Review: A hearing that reviews the juvenile’s adjustment to the treatment.
Probation: Supervision of a juvenile in the community.
Record Expunged: Record erased.
Restitution: Repayment of financial loss to the victim by the juvenile.
Shelter: A temporary, non-secure holding facility.
Transfer Hearing: A hearing to determine whether a case should be moved from the juvenile system to the adult system.
Victim Impact Statement: A statement submitted by the victim to the Court that explains the physical, psychological, and financial harm the crime created.