Terms Used In Alaska Statutes > Title 47 > Chapter 12 - Delinquent Minors

• action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• 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.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• commissioner: means the commissioner of family and community services. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• 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.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• court: means the superior court of the state. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• crime against a person: means an offense set out in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• 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.
• delinquent minor: means a minor found to be within the jurisdiction of the court under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• department: means the Department of Family and Community Services. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• 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.
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• gravely disabled: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• 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.
• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• 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: means a secure facility for the detention of delinquent minors in the custody of the department under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• juvenile probation officer: means an officer described in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• juvenile treatment facility: means a secure facility for treatment of minors adjudicated delinquent and committed by a court to the care and custody of the department under Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• mental health professional: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• mental illness: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• minor: as used in this chapter includes a person described in this section. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.022
• 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
• 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.
• peace officer: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• 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
• Plea agreement: An arrangement between the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the defendant in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for special considerations. ^Source:
• 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.
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Probation officers: Screen applicants for pretrial release and monitor convicted offenders released under court supervision.
• property: includes real and personal property. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
• residential child care facility: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• secure residential psychiatric treatment center: has the meaning given "residential psychiatric treatment center" in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• 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.
• temporary secure juvenile holding area: means separate quarters that are used for the temporary detention of delinquent minors pending a court order or transportation to a juvenile detention facility and that are not within sight or sound of any adult prisoners. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• 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.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• victim: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.12.990
• Victim Impact Statement: A written or spoken statement by the victim or his or her representative about the physical, emotional, and financial impact of a crime on the victim. The statement is given to the court before sentencing.
• writing: includes printing. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060