Criminal Defense Terms and Definitions

Manslaughter A person recklessly causes the death of another, or acting under extreme emotional disturbance, causes the death of another, or acting under circumstances when a person reasonably believes the circumstances provide a legal justification or excuse for his conduct constitutes manslaughter. Accessory A person who assists in the commission of a crime, either before or after the fact. Restitution Court-ordered payment to restore goods or money to the victim of a crime by the offender. Miranda rule The rule, pronounced in Miranda v. Arizona, that confessions are inadmissible in a criminal prosecution if the police do not advise the suspect in custody of certain rights before questioning. Battery Actual physical violence, whether serious or minor, inflicted on a person. (A mere threat is called assault, whereas the completed act is called battery) Admissible evidence Evidence which can legally and properly be used in court. Fraud An intentional perversion of truth; deceitful practice or device resorted to with intent to deprive another of property or other right. Fourth Amendment The 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects every person against unreasonable search and seizure by government officials. Assault A willful attempt to illegally inflict injury on or threaten a person. Tort An injury or wrong committed, either with or without force, to the person or property of another, for which civil liability may be imposed.

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	Did You Know?
	Res Ipsa Loquitur - Literally, "a thing that speaks for itself." In tort law, the doctrine which holds a defendant guilty of negligence without an actual showing that he or she was negligent. Its use is limited in theory to cases in which the cause of the plaintiff's injury was entirely under the control of the defendant, and the injury presumably could have been caused only by negligence.