NCJ Number
130963
Date Published
1991
Length
250 pages
Annotation
This bilingual dictionary (English/Spanish) of criminal justice terms focuses on the terminology of criminal procedure in the common-law legal system of the United States.
Abstract
The book provides approximately 900 terms of high-frequency usage in the criminal justice system including the labels of approximately 200 penal offenses. The definitions provided are informational and have been written in nontechnical language so as to be understandable to a broad range of users. The Spanish equivalents included in the book have received rigorous scholarly scrutiny and represent the consensus of legal and linguistic experts from diverse sources. Term entries are presented in alphabetical order. When an English term has several distinct meanings, these are indicated. Each meaning represents a specific concept and has a corresponding conceptual equivalent in Spanish. Each entry is followed by a definition. The Spanish equivalent is also followed by a definition that parallels that of the English. Synonyms are also included. A flow chart indicates the procedural steps from arrest to case disposition. Eleven charts indicate the major categories of penal offenses and the corresponding offenses within each category in eight jurisdictions.