Criminal Law terms starting with S

15 terms

  1. Search warrant A written order issued by a judge that directs a law enforcement officer to search a specific area for a particular piece of evidence.
  2. Sentence The punishment ordered by a court for a defendant convicted of a crime. See concurrent and consecutive sentences.
  3. Sentencing hearing A court hearing at which the defendant is sentenced. At the hearing, the court considers the attorneys' comments on the probation officer's…
  4. Sentencing range One of the goals of guidelines sentencing is to ensure that similar offenders who commit similar crimes are given similar sentences.
  5. Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 A statute passed by Congress which establishes the U.S. Sentencing Commission and gives the Commission authority to issue sentencing guidelines for use in…
  6. Special assessment A lien assessed against real property by a public authority to pay costs of public improvements (for example, sewers, street lights) that directly benefit…
  7. Speedy Trial Act Federal law establishing time limits for carrying out major events, i.e. indictment, arraignment, etc., in a criminal prosecution.
  8. Statement of reasons The court's reasons for imposing a particular sentence. The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 requires the court to state its reasons for imposing a…
  9. Stipulation An agreement between the parties to settle all or part of the case without further hearings. The stipulation must be approved by the Court.
  10. Subpoena A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  11. Substantial assistance The United States Sentencing Commission's sentencing guidelines contain a policy statement allowing the court to depart from the guidelines and impose a…
  12. Summons The Order from the Court Administrator to the defendant telling her/him to come to court to respond to the Complaint, which must be attached to the…
  13. Supervised release A term of supervised release must be ordered by the court when required by statute or following a sentence of more than one year in prison.
  14. Suppression motion A motion filed by the defendant seeking to suppress or prevent the government from using evidence at trial that the government is alleged to have obtained…
  15. Sustain A court ruling upholding an objection or a motion.