Terms Used In Alaska Statutes > Title 47 > Chapter 10 > Article 1 - Children's Proceedings

• action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
• adult family member: means a person who is 18 years of age or older and who is
  (A) related to the child as the child's grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• care: means to provide for the physical, mental, and social needs of the child. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• child: means a person who is
  (A) under 18 years of age. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• child in need of aid: means a child found to be within the jurisdiction of the court under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• commissioner: means the commissioner of family and community services. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• court: means the superior court of the state. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• custodian: means a natural person 18 years of age or older to whom a parent or guardian has transferred temporary physical care, custody, and control of the child for a period of time. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• department: means the Department of Family and Community Services. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• domestic violence: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• family member: means a person of any age who is
  (A) related to the child as the child's grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• family support services: means the services and activities provided to children and their families, including those provided by the community, a church, or other service organization, both to prevent removal of a child from the parental home and to facilitate the child's safe return to the family. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• foster care: means care provided by a person or household under a foster home license required under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• gravely disabled: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• guardian: means a natural person who is legally appointed guardian of the child by the court. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Indian child: has the meaning given in 25 U. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• infant: means a child who is less than 21 days of age. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• intoxicant: means a substance that temporarily diminishes a person's control over mental or physical powers, including alcohol, controlled substances under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• juvenile detention facility: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• mental health professional: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• mental illness: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• mental injury: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• municipality: means a political subdivision incorporated under the laws of the state that is a home rule or general law city, a home rule or general law borough, or a unified municipality. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
• near fatality: means physical injury or other harm, as certified by a physician, caused by an act or omission that created a substantial risk of death. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
• out-of-home care provider: means a foster parent or relative other than a parent with whom the child is placed. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• parent: means the biological or adoptive parent of the child. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• peace officer: means
  (A) an officer of the state troopers. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
• permanency hearing: means a hearing
  (A) designed to reach a decision in a case concerning the permanent placement of a child under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
• physical injury: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• property: includes real and personal property. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
• reasonable efforts: means , with respect to family support services required under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• reasonable time: means a period of time that serves the best interests of the child, taking in account the affected child's age, emotional and developmental needs, and ability to form and maintain lasting attachments. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• secure residential psychiatric treatment center: has the meaning given "residential psychiatric treatment center" in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• sexual abuse: means the conduct described in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• support: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• writing: includes printing. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060