Legal Terms and Definitions

Glossary of Legal Terms

Recognizance The continued, habitual or compulsive commission of law violations after first having been convicted of prior offenses. Proximate cause A court order following a judgment on the ground of neglect or abuse, whereby the child is permitted to remain in his home, and supervision and assistance to correct the neglect or abuse is provided by the probation department or other agency designated by the court. Parole A procedure in which a parole board releases a convict on good behavior before the maximum sentence expires. Bail In criminal cases, a sum of money posted by or on behalf of a defendant to guarantee his appearance in court after being released from jail Ordinance A written law enacted by the legislative body of a county, city, or town. Extradition The surrender by one state to another of an individual accused or convicted of an offense outside its own territory, and within the territorial jurisdiction of the other. Probate The process of proving the validity of a will. Interstate compact A contract between member states to supervise juveniles on probation or parole, and to return delinquent juveniles who have escaped or nondelinquent juveniles who have run away, from one state to another

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	Did You Know?
	The mediation process may vary depending on the mediator. Generally, mediations commence with a general session with all parties, counsel and the mediator. At the general session, there will be a discussion of the case, the issues on appeal and other matters important to settlement. Then the mediator will meet separately with each party and their counsel in separate "caucuses." In these separate sessions, the mediator will seek to foster negotiations between the parties and develop agreement.