NEWS CHOMP: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL - DECEMBER 2007

CRIME GLOSSARY

ABET: TO AID A CRIMINAL
ACCOMPLICE: TO ASSIST IN A CRIME
AD HOC: HIRED TO HANDLE ONLY ONE PROBLEM
AD LITEM: GUARDIAN APPOINTED FOR A LAWSUIT
AKA: ALSO KNOWN AS
ALLOCUTION: DEFENDANT'S STATEMENT TO THE COURT BEFORE SENTENCING
APB: ALL POINTS BULLETIN
CAVEAT: A WARNING, BEWARE
CHAMBERS: PRIVATE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE
CODIS: NATIONAL DATABASE OF DNA PROFILES
DOA: DEAD ON ARRIVAL
EX PARTE: MOTIONS GRANTED FOR ONE PARTY ONLY
EXCULPATORY: EVIDENCE WHICH MAY EXCUSE A DEFENDANT'S ACTIONS
FORENSICS: SCIENTIFIC PROCESSING OF EVIDENCE
GAG ORDER: TO PROHIBIT FROM SPEAKING PUBLICLY
HEARSAY: SECOND-HAND EVIDENCE
IMPEACH: TO DISCREDIT THE TESTIMONY
IN ABSENTIA: CRIMINAL TRIAL WITHOUT THE DEFENDANT PRESENT
INDICTMENT: FORMAL DOCUMENT CHARGING A PERSON WITH CRIMINAL OFFENSE
INJUNCTION: COURT ORDER TO REFRAIN FROM AN ACTION
INQUEST: JUDICIAL INQUIRY OR EXAMINATION BEFORE A JURY
JONES RULE: LAW WHICH COVERS INJURIES TO CREW AT SEA
JURISPRUDENCE: STUDY OF LAW AND LEGAL QUESTIONS
M'NAUGHTEN RULE: LEGAL TEST OF CRIMINAL INSANITY
M.O. (MODUS OPERANDI): DISTINCT PATTERN THAT SUGGESTS THE WORK OF A SINGLE CRIMINAL
MIRANDA: WARNING OF YOUR RIGHTS
NOLO CONTENDRE: DOES NOT ADMIT GUILT, BUT ACCEPTS THE PUNISHMENT
PERP: PERPETRATOR
PETITION: FORMAL WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COURT
PLEA BARGAIN: DEAL OFFERED TO THE DEFENDANT BY THE PROSECUTION
PRIMA FACIE: EVIDENT WITHOUT PROOF, OBVIOUS
PRO BONO: LEGAL WORK BY LAWYERS PERFORMED FOR FREE
PRO SE: TO REPRESENT YOURSELF IN COURT
QUID PRO QUO: AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARTIES OF WHAT EACH EXPECTS FROM THE OTHER
REBUTTAL: EVIDENCE TO CONTRADICT A LEGAL ARGUMENT
SUBORNATION OF PERJURY: KNOWINGLY TELLING A LIE UNDER OATH
VACATE: A JUDGE ANNULS A JUDGEMENT
VOIR DIRE: QUESTIONING OF PROSPECTIVE JURORS
WARRANT: A COURT ORDER TO ARREST AND BRING BEFORE A JUDGE

TRUE CRIME MOVIES

10 RILLINGTON PLACE (John Christie)
ALPHA DOG (Jesse James Hollywood)
BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (Robert Stroud)
BONNIE AND CLYDE
BOYS DON'T CRY (Brandon Teena)
BULLY
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (Frank W. Abagnale, Jr.
CHANGELING (Christine Collins)
COMPULSION (Leopold and Loeb)
DEAD MAN WALKING (Sister Helen Prejean)
DOG DAY AFTERNOON (bank robber Sonny Wortzik)
DONNIE BRASCO
FARGO
GOODFELLAS (Henry Lee)
GUYANA TRAGEDY: THE STORY OF JIM JONES
HEAVENLY CREATURES (two New Zealand girls kill mother))
HELTER SKELTER (Charles Manson)
HENRY: PORTAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (Henry Lee Lucas)
IN COLD BLOOD (murder of the Clutters)
KARLA (Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo)
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF EVIL (murder in Savannah)
MISSISSIPPI BURNING (murder of civil rights workers)
MONSTER (Aileen Wuornos)
MURDER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE (The Pamela Wojas Smart Story)
REVERSAL OF FORTUNE (Sunny Von Bulow)
SAVAGE GRACE (Barbara Daly Baekeland)
SERPICO
SILKWOOD
SMALL SACRIFICES (Diane Downs)
SUMMER OF SAM (David Berkowitz)
SWOON (Leopold and Loeb)
THE BLACK DAHLIA (Elizabeth Short)
THE EXECUTIONER'S SONG (Gary Gilmore)
THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN
THE FRENCH CONNECTION (Popeye Doyle)
THE ONION FIELD
THE YOUNG POISONER'S HANDBOOK ( Graham Young)