Unpaid work, intended to be of social use, that an offender is required to do instead of going to prison.
Example: He is not going to jail, but he has to do community service.
fr: Un travail d'intérêt général
A courthouse
Noun
A building in which courts of law are regularly held.
Example: The divorce was granted at the courthouse.
fr: Un palais de justice
A dispute
Noun
A disagreement or argument.
Example: The dispute was about their house in the South of France.
fr: Un contentieux
A felony
Noun
A serious crime that can be punished by more than one year in prison in the United States.
Example: He was accused of a felony in the past.
fr: Un crime grave
A hearing
Noun
An official meeting that is held to gather the facts about an event or problem.
Example: He wants to attend the hearing.
fr: Une audience
A Justice
Noun
A judge or magistrate, in particular a judge of the Supreme Court of a country or state.
Example: This decision was taken by a Justice.
fr: Un juge à la court suprême
A prosecutor
Noun
A person, especially a public official, who institutes legal proceedings against someone.
Example: The tape recordings provided prosecutors with the evidence they needed to prove he'd been involved in the conspiracy.
fr: Un procureur
An ankle bracelet
Noun
An electronic device that is fastened around the ankle of a person who has committed a crime, so that the police know where that person.
Example: She is not going to jail, but she has to wear an ankle bracelet.
fr: Un bracelet électronique
An appearance
Noun
An occasion when someone goes to court to be officially involved in a trial:.
Example: His appearance was immediate.
fr: Une comparution
An obstruction of justice
Noun
Interfering with the process of justice and law especially by influencing, threatening, harming, or impeding a witness, potential witness, juror, or judicial or legal officer or by furnishing false information in or otherwise impeding an investigation or legal process.
fr: Une entrave au cours de la justice
Damages
Noun
Money that is paid to someone by a person or organization who has been responsible for causing them some injury or loss.
Example: The police have been ordered to pay substantial damages to the families of the two dead boys.
fr: Des dommages et intérêts
Parole
Noun
The temporary or permanent release of a prisoner before the expiry of a sentence, on the promise of good behaviour.
Example: She was released on parole.
fr: Liberté conditionnelle
Probation
Noun
The release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behaviour under supervision.
Example: She is still on probation.
fr: Liberté surveillée
To charge with
Verb
Accuse of a crime.
Example: The man was charged with an unregistered firearm.
fr: Inculper
To legislate
Verb
Make or enact laws.
Example: A member of congress cannot legislate alone.
fr: Légiférer
To overturn
Verb
To overturn a decision or judgment is for a court to change it so it will not be in effect.
Example: The court will overturn the sentence if she can prove her innocence.
fr: Annuler un jugement
To pardon
Verb
Forgive or excuse (a person, error, or offence).
Example: The President pardoned both men.
fr: Gracier
To plead
Verb
To argue a case in a court of law.
Example: His lawyer told him to plead not guilty.
fr: Plaider
To prosecute
Verb
Institute or conduct legal proceedings against a person or organization.
Example: She finally decided to prosecute him for identity theft.
fr: Poursuivre en justice
To sue
Verb
Institute legal proceedings against a person or institution.
Example: Despite the assault, he does not sue them.
fr: Engager des poursuites
To take the stand
Verb
To stand in the designated place in a courtroom and give testimony.
Example: He took the stand at her trial.
fr: Venir à la barre
To testify
Verb
To make a solemn declaration under oath for the purposes of establishing a fact (as in a court).
Example: If she testifies, her son can be cleared of all charges.