prosecutions
Legal cases pursued
Prosecutions are legal proceedings in which someone is charged with a crime and tried in court.
The term covers both the process and the cases themselves: The district attorney's office handles hundreds of prosecutions each year.
A prosecution is brought by the state or government against a defendant.
The prosecution also refers collectively to the lawyers pursuing the case: The prosecution rested its case.
Formal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- chargesAmounts owed or alleged
- defendantParty facing charges
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
allegation · plea · bail · grand jury · evidence · witness · testimony · subpoena
Legal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- witnessOne who attests
evidence · pleadings · litigation · judgment · acquittal · conviction · deliberation · opening statement
Responsible for wrongdoing
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
- convictionFirmly held belief
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
dismissal · plea bargain · probation · parole · prison · jail · punishment · fine
County's chief prosecuting officer
- attorney generalChief governmental legal officer
- stateCondition or mode
- governmentAuthority over a state
- solicitorDocument-drafting legal professional
special counsel · investigation · enforcement · criminal justice system · law enforcement · regulatory agency · jurisdiction
Obligation for one's actions
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- victimOne harmed by another
redress · public interest · rule of law · impartiality · due process · rights · precedent · reform
indictment
Formal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- chargesAmounts owed or alleged
- defendantParty facing charges
accusation · allegation · plea · bail · grand jury · evidence · witness · testimony · subpoena · discovery
jury
Legal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
witness · evidence · pleadings · litigation · judgment · acquittal · conviction · deliberation · opening statement · closing argument
guilty
Responsible for wrongdoing
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
- convictionFirmly held belief
acquittal · dismissal · plea bargain · probation · parole · prison · jail · punishment · fine · restitution
district attorney
County's chief prosecuting officer
- attorney generalChief governmental legal officer
- stateCondition or mode
- governmentAuthority over a state
solicitor · special counsel · investigation · enforcement · criminal justice system · law enforcement · regulatory agency · jurisdiction
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
victim · redress · public interest · rule of law · impartiality · due process · rights · precedent · reform
- international lawinternational law, treaty, treaties, conventions, protocols
- enforcementenforcement actions, crackdown, fines, enforcement agencies, penalties
- wildlife lawpoaching, poachers, wildlife crime, wildlife trafficking, illegal hunting
- anti-corruptionanti-graft, whistleblower protection, whistleblowers, financial disclosure, conflict of interest
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- financial crimesbank fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud
prosecutionsdefenses
Means of protection
acquittals · defense counsel · defense arguments · denials · defendants
prosecutionsdismissals
Formal removal from position
acquittals · declinations · dropped charges · exonerations · plea bargains
prosecutionspardons
Official forgiveness of crimes
amnesty · exonerations · amnesties · clemency · absolutions
- criminal prosecutionGovernment's legal action against accused
- prosecution witnessOne testifying for state
- federal prosecutionGovernment-initiated criminal proceedings
- immunity from prosecutionExemption from criminal proceedings
- prosecution caseCharges brought against defendant
- court prosecutionState's legal pursuit