Common Police Terms Flashcards
Bail
Property, usually money, given as a surety that a person released from custody will return at a certain time
Blotter
A book or complication of reports recording arrests as they occur and usually available for perusal by reporters
Booking
The period immediately after arrest during which the charges against a suspect are entered into the police register
Burglary
The felony of breaking into and entering a building with the intent to steal
Complaint
The formal action or criminal charge brought against a person by a prosecutor
Coroner
The city or county official with the responsibility to look into circumstances of violent or sudden death
Entrapment
The deliberate attempt by police to get a person to commit a crime
False Arrest
The unlawful physical restraint of a person in jail
Felony
The gravest crimes such as murder or rape, punishable by more than a year in prison
Inquest
A judicial inquiry, especially before a jury, often about the cause of death
Jail
City and county facilities administered by local law enforcement agencies for pre trial detention of suspects and short term sentences
Misdemeanor
A criminal defense that is less serious than the worst crimes, usually punishable by less than a year in jail
Murder
The unlawful killing of a human being with malice a forethought
Penal Code
The state rules for crime and punishment
Prison
A state or federally run facility for the confinement of persons convicted of crimes, usually with rehabilitation programs
