Criminal Law B Flashcards
Bailiff
A person acting with legal authority in the seizure of personal property; and, also, the official in each courtroom who attends to security within.
Bail
The pledge of cash or property to secure the release of a thing or person which would otherwise be held in custody.
Barrator
A person who, on more than one occasion, incites litigation or spreads false rumours.
Barratry
An intentional wrongful act committed by the crew or master of a ship to the prejudice of the owner or the charterer.
Battered Woman Syndrome
A species of self-defence to manslaughter or murder in which expert evidence is led to demonstrate that a female defendant in an abusive relationship comes to believe that to save herself she must kill her husband first.
Battering Cycle
A three-phase cycle of violent behavior within a spousal relationship.
Battery
Offensive and intentional contact, direct or indirect, which causes injury.
Bawdy House
A brothel; an establishment of ill repute - within which occur acts of prostitution or lewd sex.
Bench
A Judge in court session.
Bigamy
Being married to more than one person at the same time; a criminal offence in most jurisdictions.
Bill of Attainder
Conviction and sentence to death directly by statute, as opposed to resulting from trial.
Blackmail
The obtaining or attempting to obtain something by the use of threats.
Blasphemy
The scurrilous, deriding or intemperate expression of dissent or criticism of God or a state’s official religion.
Blue Ribbon Jury
A jury consisting of highly qualified persons.
Bootlegging
The making of an unauthorized copy of a commercially unreleased performance.
