This section explains the vocabulary readers meet in criminal investigations, charging decisions, constitutional safeguards, trial standards, conviction, and sentencing.
Use it to understand how a case moves from suspicion and probable cause through charging, arraignment, bail, plea discussions, trial protections, and post-verdict consequences.
If you need the adjacent evidence concepts that shape criminal trials, continue into Evidence and Trial Practice.
- Actus Reus as the Conduct Element of a Crime
Learn how actus reus describes the prohibited act, omission, or conduct element of a criminal offense.
- Allocution Before Criminal Sentencing
Allocution is the opportunity for a defendant to speak to the court before sentencing.
- Arraignment in Criminal Court
An arraignment is an early court appearance where charges are presented and the defendant is asked to enter a plea.
- Arrest Warrant as Court Authorization to Take a Person into Custody
Understand arrest warrants, why probable cause matters, and how they differ from search warrants.
- Bail in Criminal Procedure
Bail is the mechanism courts use to decide whether a defendant may remain out of custody while a criminal case is pending and on what conditions.
- Bail Revocation After Release Conditions Are Violated
Bail revocation is the cancellation of pretrial release after alleged violations, new charges, or changed risk findings.
- Bench Warrant Issued from the Court
Learn what a bench warrant is and how it differs from other warrants in criminal procedure.
- Conviction in Criminal Law
A conviction is the formal finding that a defendant is guilty of a criminal offense.
- Criminal Charge in Prosecution Practice
A criminal charge is the formal accusation that a person committed a crime.
- Criminal Complaint Starting a Criminal Case
A criminal complaint is a charging document or sworn statement used to begin or support a criminal case in some courts.
- Custodial Interrogation and Miranda Issues
Custodial interrogation is questioning by law enforcement after a person is in custody, a setting that can trigger Miranda protections.
- Deferred Adjudication Before Final Criminal Judgment
Deferred adjudication is a criminal-case disposition where final judgment is delayed while the defendant completes court-ordered conditions.
- Diversion Program as an Alternative Criminal Case Path
A diversion program is an alternative criminal case path that may allow charges to be dismissed or reduced after specified conditions are completed.
- Diversion Program in Criminal Case Resolution
Understand diversion as a process that may move a criminal case away from ordinary conviction and sentencing.
- Double Jeopardy Protection in Criminal Law
Double jeopardy is the constitutional protection against being prosecuted or punished more than once in certain ways for the same offense.
- Exclusionary Rule in Criminal Procedure
The exclusionary rule is the principle that some evidence obtained in violation of constitutional protections may be kept out of court.
- Exigent Circumstances Exception to Warrant Requirements
Exigent circumstances are urgent conditions that may justify certain law-enforcement actions without first obtaining a warrant.
- Expungement Limiting Public Access to a Criminal Record
Expungement is a legal process that can remove, seal, or limit public access to certain criminal records depending on the jurisdiction.
- Felony in U.S. Criminal Law
A felony is a more serious category of crime that usually carries heavier penalties and more formal criminal procedure consequences than a misdemeanor.
- Grand Jury in Criminal Procedure
A grand jury is a body that evaluates whether sufficient grounds exist to bring certain criminal charges.
- Indictment in Criminal Procedure
An indictment is a formal criminal charge, often issued after grand jury review, accusing a person of a serious offense.
- Mens Rea as the Mental Element of a Crime
Understand mens rea as the required mental state for many criminal offenses.
- Miranda Rights in U.S. Criminal Procedure
Miranda rights are the warnings police must generally give before custodial interrogation so a suspect understands key constitutional protections.
- Miranda Warning Before Custodial Interrogation
A Miranda warning advises a suspect of key constitutional rights before custodial interrogation.
- Misdemeanor in U.S. Criminal Law
A misdemeanor is a lower-level criminal offense that usually carries lighter penalties and fewer severe collateral consequences than a felony.
- Motion to Suppress in Criminal Cases
A motion to suppress asks the court to exclude evidence that was obtained or handled in violation of legal rules.
- Nolo Contendere as a No Contest Plea
Learn what a nolo contendere plea means and how it differs from a guilty plea.
- Parole as Supervised Release After Prison
Learn how parole works as supervised release after incarceration and how it differs from probation.
- Plea Agreement Resolving a Criminal Case
A plea agreement is an agreement in which a defendant resolves criminal charges by entering a plea under stated terms.
- Plea Bargain in Criminal Cases
A plea bargain is a negotiated criminal-case resolution in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest under agreed terms.
- Plea Colloquy Before Accepting a Criminal Plea
A plea colloquy is the court's questioning to confirm that a defendant's plea is knowing, voluntary, and supported by required information.
- Plea in a Criminal Case
Understand a criminal plea as the defendant's formal response to a charge.
- Preliminary Hearing in Early Criminal Case Screening
Learn how preliminary hearings test whether a criminal case has enough support to move forward.
- Presentence Investigation Report for Sentencing
A presentence investigation report gives the court background information before sentencing in a criminal case.
- Presumption of Innocence in Criminal Law
The presumption of innocence means a defendant starts a criminal case as legally not proved guilty unless the prosecution meets its burden.
- Pretrial Release Before Criminal Case Resolution
Pretrial release allows a criminal defendant to remain out of custody under stated conditions while the case is pending.
- Probable Cause Hearing in Criminal Procedure
A probable cause hearing is a proceeding where a court evaluates whether there is enough basis for a criminal charge, detention, or further proceedings.
- Probable Cause in Criminal Procedure
Probable cause is the level of factual justification that usually supports arrests, search warrants, and some criminal charging decisions.
- Probation as Court-Supervised Sentencing in the Community
Understand probation as a sentencing option that lets a person remain in the community under court conditions.
- Probation Violation During Criminal Supervision
A probation violation is an alleged failure to comply with the conditions of probation.
- Reasonable Doubt in Criminal Cases
Reasonable doubt is the level of uncertainty that prevents a criminal conviction under the highest standard of proof.
- Reasonable Suspicion in Criminal Procedure
Reasonable suspicion is a lower legal threshold than probable cause and can justify limited investigative police action in some circumstances.
- Restitution Order Requiring Payment to a Victim
A restitution order requires a defendant to pay money tied to losses caused by the offense or conduct covered by the case.
- Search Warrant Affidavit Supporting Probable Cause
A search warrant affidavit is a sworn statement used to support probable cause for a requested search warrant.
- Search Warrant in Criminal Procedure
A search warrant is a judicial authorization allowing law enforcement to search a place, person, or item for evidence based on probable cause.
- Self-Incrimination and the Right to Remain Silent
Self-incrimination refers to being compelled to provide testimony or statements that could help establish one's own criminal liability.
- Sentencing After Conviction
Sentencing is the stage of a criminal case in which the court determines the punishment or other consequences after conviction.
- Suppression Hearing on Challenged Evidence
A suppression hearing is a court hearing where a judge decides whether challenged evidence should be excluded from a criminal case.
- Suppression Motion Challenging Evidence Use
A suppression motion asks the court to exclude evidence from use in a criminal case because of an alleged legal violation.
- Warrantless Search in Criminal Procedure
A warrantless search is a search conducted without a search warrant, often requiring a recognized exception to be lawful.