Accelerated Rehabilitation: Also called AR. A program that gives persons charged with
a crime or motor vehicle violation for the first time a second chance. The person is placed
on probation for up to two years. If probation is completed satisfactorily, the charges are
dismissed.
Acknowledgement: The signature of a clerk or attorney certifying that the person filing
the document has sworn that the contents are true, and/or that the document is signed by
his or her free act and deed.
Action: Also called a case or lawsuit. A civil judicial proceeding where one party sues
another for a wrong done, or to protect a right or to prevent a wrong.
Adjournment: Postponement of a court session until another time or place.
Bail: Also called Bond. Money or property given to the court for the temporary release of
a defendant, to ensure that the defendant will return to court.
Bail Bondsperson: A person who lends money to a defendant to pay for bail.
Bail Commissioner: A state-appointed person who may set the amount of bond for
persons detained at a police station prior to arraignment in court, and who recommends to
the court the amount of bond that should be set for the defendant on each criminal case.
Bar: Refers to attorneys as a group.
Best Interest of the Child: The standard a judge uses to decide custody and visitation
issues.
Bench Warrant: Court papers issued by the judge, "from the bench," for the arrest of a
person.
Bond: Also called bail. Money or property given to the court for the temporary release
of a defendant, to ensure that the defendant will return to court. There are two kinds of
bonds:
Non-financial bonds:
a) Non-surety bond where the defendant's signature alone guarantees the amount of
bond and the defendant is not required to post any property or retain the services of a
professional bail bondsperson as collateral.
b) Promise to appear.
Surety bond: The court requires cash, real estate or a professional bail
bondpersons signature as collateral before releasing the defendant back into the
community. (The court may allow the defendant to post ten percent of the bond in cash to
secure his or her release.)
Calendar: A list of court cases scheduled for a specific date and time; the civil and
family court docket.
Calendar Call: The calling of cases scheduled for the day, usually done at the beginning
of each court day.
Capias Mittimus: A civil arrest warrant used to get a person physically into court to
respond to a specific case or claim.
Capital Felony: A criminal offense in which the death penalty may be imposed
Case: A lawsuit or action in a court.
Case Conference: A meeting scheduled by the court to review the case.
Case File: The court file containing papers submitted in a case.
Case Flow Coordinator: A person who keeps track of your case and supervises the
scheduling of hearings and trials.
Central Transportation Unit: Persons in the Division of Juvenile Detention Services
who provide safe and secure transportation services for juveniles detained at Juvenile
Detention Centers, Alternative Detention Program and Girls’ Detention Program.
Damages: Money a party receives as compensation for a legal wrong.
Day Incarceration Center: Also called DIC. A community based program that provides
monitoring, supervision and services to people who would otherwise be incarcerated.
Day Incarceration Center clients are supervised during the daytime hours, seven days per
week.
Declaration: An unsworn statement of facts made by a party to the transaction, or by one
who has an interest in the facts recounted.
Default: To fail to respond or answer to the plaintiff’s claims by filing the required court
document; usually an Appearance or an Answer.
Defendant: In civil cases, the person who is given court papers, also called a respondent.
In criminal cases, the person who is arrested and charged with a crime.
Delinquent: In civil or family cases, failing to pay an amount of money when due: In
juvenile cases, a child who violated a law, local ordinance, or an order of the Superior
Court.
Deposition: Testimony of a witness taken, under oath, in response to another party's
questions. Testimony given outside the courtroom, usually in a lawyer's office. A word
for word account (transcript) is made of the testimony.
Detention Hearing or Detention Release Hearing: A hearing on the first business
day after a juvenile is admitted to juvenile detention concerning the legality and
appropriateness of continued detention of the juvenile. The detention decision must be
reviewed at least every fifteen days.
