Criminal Law

Opinion is a noun meaning a belief or judgment held about something not necessarily based on fact. It refers to a personal viewpoint expressed or considered, and may be subjective or interpretive. Opinions differ among people and can influence discussions, decisions, or debates, often contrasted with objective facts.

Parole is a legal term referring to the conditional release of a prisoner before completing the full sentence, under supervision. It can also denote a word of honor or a promise. In linguistics, parole contrasts with langue, describing the actual use of language by individuals within social contexts. It implies restricted freedom subject to rules and monitoring.

Precedent (noun) refers to a previous action, decision, or example that is used as a guide or justification for similar cases in the future. It establishes a standard setting a pattern for subsequent judgments, opinions, or rules. In law and broader discourse, a precedent informs interpretation and anticipated outcomes by illustrating established principles.

Rehabilitation is the process of restoring someone to health or normal life through medical treatment, therapy, or training after illness, injury, or addiction. It emphasizes recuperation, adaptation, and functional recovery, often involving physical, occupational, or psychological interventions to regain independence and quality of life.

Restorative is an adjective describing something that restores health, vitality, or strength. It can refer to medicines, activities, or atmospheres that renew from fatigue or decay, often implying restorative properties or effects that promote recovery. The term conveys a sense of renewal and healing in physical, emotional, or environmental contexts.

Sanctions (plural noun) are punitive measures or penalties imposed by one party on another, often by governments or international bodies to influence behavior or deter violations. They can restrict trade, financial transactions, or other activities, and may be imposed for diplomatic or security reasons. The term covers both formal legal mechanisms and broader policy tools used in international relations.

Seizure is a sudden, involuntary burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause convulsions, abnormal movements, or changes in awareness. It is a medical event with various causes and presentations, requiring prompt evaluation. The term is also used metaphorically to describe a sudden, forceful capture or takeover of a place or situation.

Stalking, as a noun, refers to repeatedly following or pursuing someone, often in a concerning or threatening manner. It can denote the act itself or the broader pattern of persistent surveillance and contact. The term carries legal and social implications, especially regarding safety and privacy. In everyday contexts, it may describe obsessive behavior or the act of tracking for investigative purposes.

Statute is a written law enacted by a legislative body. It denotes a formally established rule or set of rules that governs conduct and is enforceable by legal institutions. In common usage, statutes contrast with case law or executive orders, and they form the basis for legal rights, obligations, and procedures.

Surveillance is the systematic close observation of people, activities, or information, typically for security or management purposes. It involves careful monitoring, data gathering, and analysis to detect, prevent, or respond to potential threats or behaviors. The term emphasizes ongoing, often covert, oversight across spaces or communications.

The noun theft refers to the act of taking someone else’s property without permission, typically with intent to deprive. It denotes a crime or wrongdoing involving misplaced ownership, and is used in legal, academic, and everyday contexts to discuss crime rates, policy, or personal loss. The word emphasizes the act rather than the thief, and is often paired with phrases like “petty theft” or “theft deterrence.”

Trespassing (noun) refers to the act of entering someone else’s property or restricted area without permission. It can also describe the offense of infringement or intrusion, especially in legal contexts. The term emphasizes unlawful entry and encroachment, and is used in both everyday language and formal statutes or charges.

A trial is a formal examination or proceeding, typically in a court of law, to determine a person’s guilt or innocence or to resolve a dispute. It can also refer to a test or experimental process to assess performance, quality, or feasibility. In both senses, it involves presenting evidence, arguments, and witnesses under established rules and procedures.

Voir Dire is a legal term referring to the preliminary examination of potential jurors by a judge or attorneys to assess suitability for jury service. It is typically conducted to uncover biases and determine impartiality. In practice, the phrase marks the start of jury selection in courts and is used both in civil and criminal proceedings.

Aggravating describes something that makes a situation worse or more irritating, often provoking anger or frustration. It can also describe actions or people that intensify a problem, escalating annoyance. The term carries a mildly negative tone, suitable for describing aggravating circumstances or behaviors in everyday language.

Appeal refers to a quality that attracts or invites desire, a request to review or reconsider a decision, or the act of appealing to someone’s emotions or sense of justice. It can function as a noun (the appeal of the novel) or a verb (to appeal a verdict). The core idea is an attraction or plea that seeks favorable attention or change.

Arraign means to bring someone before a court to answer to criminal charges. It typically involves informing the defendant of the charges, and determining bail or further proceedings. The term is primarily used in legal contexts and matters of criminal procedure.

Bail is a verb and noun referring to removing someone or something from danger or constraint, or to the temporary release from confinement in exchange for a sum of money. In finance, it refers to the act of leaving a situation or quitting, sometimes used as “bail out.” The term often carries implications of legal, financial, or protective action and can function in idiomatic phrases like “bail out of a plan.”

A bailiff is a legal official whose duties include maintaining order in court, serving legal papers, and overseeing the securit y and smooth operation of proceedings. The term can also refer to a person employed to supervise a building or set of tenants, handling general administrative tasks. The word carries formal, institutional connotations and is typically used in legal or governmental contexts.

A two-syllable noun or verb referring to a device that stores chemical energy and supplies electrical power. In everyday use, it is most often a noun (the energy storage unit in devices), but as a verb it can mean to put a battery into service or to battery someone in legal terms. The core meaning centers on stored energy used to power devices or systems.

Blackmail is coercing someone by threatening to reveal or exploit compromising information unless demands are met. It combines the color-term sense of “black” with “mail” as a metaphorical mechanism of pressure, referencing storied cases of secrecy and leverage. The word functions as a compound noun and verb in modern usage, concentrating the threat into a single act or ongoing pressure.

Brief (adj or verb) refers to something short in duration or concise in content; it can describe a summary, a short period, or a lawyer’s report, depending on context. In speech, it also signals a compact, quickly delivered message. The term is common across professional settings and everyday talk, often paired with nouns like ‘briefing,’ ‘briefcase,’ or ‘briefing note.’

Charges is a plural noun or verb form meaning organized claims for a price or value, or the act of accusing someone in a legal context. It also refers to the fees or costs levied for services, or to electric charges in physics. The word carries stress on the first syllable as a monosyllabic unit in many verbs or as two-syllable in some noun uses, with plural s pronunciation depending on preceding voice. In pronunciation, the final -ges often sounds like /dʒɪz/ or /dʒɪz/ depending on context.