Glossary of Legal Terms

Acquittal - When a jury or court finds the defendant “not guilty,” the defendant is “acquitted.” 

Advocate - Usually someone trained in sexual assault and legal issues who offers support and assistance to sexual assault survivors.  An advocate may work for the prosecutor or at a community based agency.

Affidavit - A sworn statement of the facts as you know them to be. 

Anonymous – Not named or identified.

Anti-Harassment Order - An order issued by the court that orders a person to stop doing certain things that “harass” another person.  

Attorney – A lawyer. 

Authorization -Permission.  

Bailiff - A court employee who maintains order in the courtroom.

Bail - The property or money given in assurance that the defendant will appear in court.

Bond -The money paid to a bond company so that they will pay the bail for a person.  The bond price is usually 10% of the bail amount.

Charge/ Charged - When the prosecuting attorney formally accuses someone of having committed a criminal offense, that person is “charged” with a crime.  

Clerk (of the Court) - A court official who handles clerical matters like keeping records, filing documents and providing certified copies.

Commissioner (of the Court) –A type of judge who makes decisions relating to a particular subject matter.  

Confidential – Private or secret.   

Consent – When you give permission or agree to something.

Contraception – Birth control.

Conviction - To prove or find someone guilty of a crime.

Court –The official place and process for the administration of justice.

Defendant - The person against whom a charge or claim is brought in court. 

Defense Attorney - The lawyer for the defendant.  

Discovery - The process by which the attorneys in the case share relevant information.  

Disclosed/disclosure – When information is released or shared, it is “disclosed.” 

Dismissal - An order by the court that means the case is over.  

Disposition - The result or final outcome of a case   

Emancipation - When a teenager becomes legally competent to be their own guardian and is no longer subject to parental control. 

Forensic Exam – A physical examination of the body that is designed to collect evidence to show that a crime was perpetrated upon that person.

Guilty -When the defendant is determined to have committed the crime; he or she is “guilty.” 

Hearing - A court proceeding where a judge considers requests for either party in a case.   

Judge -An elected or appointed public official with the authority to hear and decide cases in court.

Judgment - The decision of a judge.

Jury– Usually a group of 12 people from the community randomly selected to consider evidence and decide the outcome of a criminal case.  

Minor – Generally someone under the age of 18.

Motion - A request made to the court asking the judge to do something. A motion is usually heard at a hearing. 

Offender -A person who has committed a crime.

Oath --A pledge before testifying, every witness must take an oath that he or she will tell the truth.

Perpetrator – Also may be referred to as the offender, the defendant or the accused. It generally means the person who assaulted you. 

Plaintiff/Petitioner -Usually used in a civil legal proceeding, referring to the person who brought the civil action.  

Police Report - Report made by the police containing the initial statement made by the victim at the time she or he reported the crime.

Pre-sentence Report -A report to the sentencing judge containing background information about the crime and the defendant to assist the judge in making a sentencing decision.

Proceeding – The court processes in which a case moves through the legal system

Prosecute/Prosecution - When the state brings charges against someone for committing a crime, that person is being “prosecuted.”

Prosecutor/Prosecuting Attorney -The lawyer for the state who is responsible for prosecuting people who commit crimes.  

Protection Order  - An order issued by a court commissioner or judge that specifically forbids the perpetrator from having contact with you.

Rape - When someone (it can be more than one person) forces you, and/or threatens you, and/or tricks you into having sexual intercourse that you do not want.

RCW - Revised Code of Washington - The statutory laws of the state of Washington.

Respondent -The person who needs to “respond” to a civil legal proceeding. 

Sentencing/Sentencing Hearing - A hearing where the judge decides the punishment for a guilty offender.  

Sexual Assault – When someone (it can be more than one person) forces you, and/or threatens you, and/or tricks you into having any kind of sexual contact that you do not want.

Statute of Limitations – The time limit assigned in which   crimes must be charged, or lawsuits must be filed in order for them to be valid claims. 

Subpoena – A piece of paper issued by a court that instructs you to do something specific, like appear in court, or provide certain documents to the other party in a legal proceeding

Testify -To make statements under oath.  

Trial -The court proceeding in which the guilt or innocence of the accused person is decided by the judge or a jury.

Testimony – When you go to court and tell the judge and/or jury what happened to you, you are giving “testimony.”

Victim– When you have been hurt by someone, the court refers to you as a victim, meaning a victim of a crime.

Victim Impact Statement - A statement made to the court by the victim or a victim representative that tells the judge how the victims or victim’s family has been affected by the crime.

Victim/Witness – A term that refers to a person who is both a victim of a crime and also the witness to that same crime.  

Witness - One who sees an act performed. One who gives evidence in a case. You can be a victim and a witness to a crime.