Glossary

Accused Person: A person who has been charged for an offence and is the defendant in a criminal case.

Assessors: People who sit in High Court matters and assist the Judge in assessing the guilt or innocence of an accused person based only on facts, rather than law.

Arrest: A procedure part of the criminal justice system where a person suspected to have committed an offence is taken into custody, pending investigations.

Bail: An agreement made by the accused person with the court for the release of the accused person from custody, on certain conditions determined by the court, while the matter is still before the court.

Constitution: Supreme law of a sovereign country.

Defence Counsel: Lawyer that represents the accused person or the defendant in a case.

Evidence: Species of proof, or probative matter, legally presented at a trial before the court, by the defence counsels and the prosecutors (in the form of witnesses, records, documents, exhibits, objects etc. for the purpose of inducing belief in the minds of the assessors or the judge to their contention.

Judge: A judge is a person who presides over cases before the court and determines the guilt or innocence of an accused person based on the representation by the Prosecutors and the Defence Counsel or the accused person.

Juvenile: A Juvenile is an individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, and includes a child and a person who has attained the age of 14 years, but who has not attained the age of 18 years.

Juvenile Court: Juvenile Court deals with Juveniles who have been charged with a Criminal or a Traffic offence and Care Order applications from the Social Welfare Department.

Prosecutor: Lawyer who represents the State or the victim in a criminal trial.

Victim of Crime: An individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional or financial harm as a result of crime.

Witness: An individual who is summonsed to appear in court to speak about what they know about a crime or a committed offence.