Missouri Laws 575.010 – Definitions
The following definitions shall apply to this chapter and chapter 576:
(1) “Affidavit” means any written statement which is authorized or required by law to be made under oath, and which is sworn to before a person authorized to administer oaths;
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 575.010
- 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.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Juror: A person who is on the jury.
- Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Petit jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
(2) “Government” means any branch or agency of the government of this state or of any political subdivision thereof;
(3) “Highway” means any public road or thoroughfare for vehicles, including state roads, county roads and public streets, avenues, boulevards, parkways or alleys in any municipality;
(4) “Judicial proceeding” means any official proceeding in court, or any proceeding authorized by or held under the supervision of a court;
(5) “Juror” means a grand or petit juror, including a person who has been drawn or summoned to attend as a prospective juror;
(6) “Jury” means a grand or petit jury, including any panel which has been drawn or summoned to attend as prospective jurors;
(7) “Official proceeding” means any cause, matter, or proceeding where the laws of this state require that evidence considered therein be under oath or affirmation;
(8) “Police animal” means a dog, horse or other animal used in law enforcement or a correctional facility, or by a municipal police department, fire department, search and rescue unit or agency, whether the animal is on duty or not on duty. The term shall include, but not be limited to, accelerant detection dogs, bomb detection dogs, narcotic detection dogs, search and rescue dogs and tracking animals;
(9) “Public record” means any document which a public servant is required by law to keep;
(10) “Testimony” means any oral statement under oath or affirmation;
(11) “Victim” means any natural person against whom any crime is deemed to have been perpetrated or attempted;
(12) “Witness” means any natural person:
(a) Having knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of facts relating to any crime; or
(b) Whose declaration under oath is received as evidence for any purpose; or
(c) Who has reported any crime to any peace officer or prosecutor; or
(d) Who has been served with a subpoena issued under the authority of any court of this state.