NCJ Number
61764
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
LEGAL DEFINITIONS AND PROCEDURES OF IMPORTANCE TO POLICE SURGEONS ARE PRESENTED; ENTRIES INCLUDE AFFIDAVIT, ACCOMPLICES, AND HABEAS CORPUS.
Abstract
THE GLOSSARY OF LEGAL DEFINITIONS AND PROCEDURE IS ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. DEFINITIONS ARE BRIEF BUT COMPLETE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENTRY FOR ACCOMPLICES STATES, 'ANYONE WHO PROCURES, ADVISES OR AIDS ANOTHER TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE IS LIABLE TO BE INDICTED AS IF HE WERE THE CHIEF ACTOR IN ITS COMMISSION.' AN AFFIDAVIT IS 'A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF AN OATH BEFORE ANY PERSON AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER AN OATH.' ARRESTABLE OFFENSES INCLUDE ALL OFFENSES FOR WHICH THE SENTENCE IS FIXED BY LAW OR FOR WHICH, ON FIRST CONVICTION, THE SENTENCE IS FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT, OR AN ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUCH OFFENSE. THE ENTRY UNDER 'DYING DECLARATION' SPECIFIES CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR ACCEPTING SUCH DECLARATIONS AS VALID EVIDENCE; THE TRIAL INVOLVED MUST BE FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, THE CASE MUST BE ONE OF HOMICIDE, THE DEATH OF THE DECEASED MUST BE THE SUBJECT OF THE CHARGE, THE PERSON MAKING THE STATEMENT MUST BE DYING, AND AT THE TIME THE DECLARATION IS SUBMITTED, THE PERSON WHO MADE THE DECLARATION MUST BE DEAD. ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS AND PROCEDURES COVERED IN THE GLOSSARY INCLUDE MEDICAL EVIDENCE, RULES OF EVIDENCE, HABEAS CORPUS, HOMICIDE, HUMAN TISSUES ACT OF 1961, REMOVAL OF BODIES FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES, POSTMORTEM EXPERIENCES, CREMATION OF BODIES, MALICIOUS DAMAGE, MENS REA, ACTUS REA, PER JURY, PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE, PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE, PROFESSIONAL SECRECY, RECOGNIZANCE, SUMMONS, TESTAMENTORY CAPACITY, AND WARRANT. (LWM)