Medium
- WCSAP Webpage
Topic
- Legal Advocacy
- 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
- Intended to be kept private or secret.
- Consent
- When you give permission or agree to something.
- 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 will not continue.
- 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; they are "guilty."
- Hearing
- A court proceeding where a judge considers requests for either party in a case.
- Judge/Judicial Officer
- 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 they 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 the victim.
- 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 they 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, and/or threatens, and/or tricks you into having sexual intercourse that you do not want.
- RCW — Revised Code of Washington
- The laws of the state of Washington.
- Respondent
- The person who needs to "respond" to a civil legal proceeding. Also
- 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, and/or threatens, and/or tricks you into having sexual contact (as defined by the law) 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.