Terms Used In Delaware Code > Title 10 > Chapter 69 - Habeas Corpus

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• 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.
• Child: means a person who has not reached the age of 18 years. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Electronic communication: means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any electromagnetic, photoelectronic or photooptical system. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2401
• Electronic communication service: means any service that provides to users of the service the ability to send or receive wire, oral or electronic communications. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2401
• 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.
• Executive authority: includes the governor and any person performing the functions of governor in a state other than this State. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2501
• Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
• Governor: includes any person performing the functions of Governor by authority of the law of this State. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2501
• Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
• 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.
• Investigative or law-enforcement officer: means any officer of this State or a political subdivision of this State, who is empowered by law to conduct investigations or to make arrests for offenses enumerated in this title, any sworn law-enforcement officer of the federal government or of any other state or a political subdivision of another state working with and under the direction of an investigative or law-enforcement officer of this State or a political subdivision of this State, or any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of such offenses. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2401
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Oath: includes affirmation in all cases where an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and "sworn" includes affirmed; and the forms shall be varied accordingly. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Pen register: means a device that records and decodes electronic or other impulses that identify the numbers dialed or otherwise transmitted on the telephone line to which the device is attached. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2401
• Person: means any employee or agent of this State or a political subdivision thereof, or any individual, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust or corporation. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2401
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
• State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Trap and trace device: means a device that captures the incoming electronic or other impulses that identify the originating number of an instrument or device from which a wire or electronic communication was transmitted. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2401
• United States: includes its territories and possessions and the District of Columbia. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• User: means any person or entity that uses an electronic communication service and is duly authorized by the provider of the service to engage in that use. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2401
• Wire communication: means any aural transfer made in whole or in part through the use of facilities for the transmission of communications by the aid of wire, cable or other like connection between the point of origin and the point of reception (including the use of a connection in a switching station) furnished or operated by any person licensed to engage in providing or operating such facilities for the transmission of communications. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 2401
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.