Terms Used In Delaware Code > Title 11 > Chapter 21 - Release of Persons Accused of Crimes

• Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
• 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.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• 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: shall mean any person who is less than 18 years old;

  (2) "Child sexual abuse" means any of the following crimes committed against a child:

  a. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8550

• Child: means a person who has not reached the age of 18 years. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• child sex abuser information: means the following information concerning a person who has been convicted of a violation of the criminal child sex abuse laws of this State:

  a. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8550

• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• criminal child sex abuse laws of this State: means those sections of the Delaware Criminal Code which establish criminal penalties for the commission of child sex abuse by a parent or other family member of a child or by any other person;

  (5) "National Crime Information Center" means the division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that serves as a computerized information source on wanted criminals, persons named in arrest warrants, runaways, missing children and stolen property for use by federal, state and local law-enforcement authorities. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8550

• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• 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.
• Missing child: means any person who is under the age of 18 years, whose temporary or permanent residence is in Delaware, or is believed to be in Delaware, whose location has not been determined, and who has been reported as missing to a law-enforcement agency. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8542
• Missing child report: is a report prepared on a form designed by the Clearinghouse for use by private citizens and law-enforcement agencies to report missing children information to the Clearinghouse. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8542
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• 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.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Unemancipated minor: shall mean a minor who has not married, and who resides with a parent or other legal guardian. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8531
• United States: includes its territories and possessions and the District of Columbia. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.