Legal Terms and Definitions

Glossary of Legal Terms

Protective supervision In child abuse and neglect cases, the emergency removal of child from his home when the child would be in imminent danger if allowed to remain with the parent(s) or custodian(s). Proximate cause A court order following a judgment on the ground of neglect or abuse, whereby the child is permitted to remain in his home, and supervision and assistance to correct the neglect or abuse is provided by the probation department or other agency designated by the court. Plea The defendant's formal response to a criminal charge (guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere, not guilty by reason of insanity, and guilty and mentally ill). Dismissal without prejudice A dismissal which permits the plaintiff to sue again on the same cause of action or the state to proceed again. Dismissal with prejudice bars the right to subsequently bring an action on the same cause Et seq An abbreviation for et sequentes, or et sequentia, "and the following," ordinarily used in referring to a section of statutes. Burglary The unlawful breaking into or entering of a building or dwelling with the intent to commit a serious crime or theft. Material evidence Evidence that is relevant to the issues in a case. Not guilty plea Complete denial of guilt. In criminal cases, a necessary stage of the proceedings required to preserve all legal issues.

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	Did You Know?
	Mediation is a process that involves a mediator Neutral third party who helps the disputing parties achieve a resolution that satisfies both of them. The mediator's primary function is to create constructive communication between parties and provide a forum where disputants can create a mutually satisfactory agreement. Mediators do not impose decisions; instead, they help people craft solutions that will work for them.