Glossary

Associate vs Circuit Courts - Click here for a map of the circuit courts in MO

Bond - money or property promised or given to the court to ensure that if the defendant is released from jail, they will return to court when expected  

Continuance - a delay or postponement of a court hearing. Can be caused by a a good reason, such as illness or witness unavailability, or by agreement of the parties (victim, defendant, etc). 

Creditor intercession services - the prosecuting attorney can act as an intermediary (middleman) with creditors (banks, lenders, etc) if a victim is temporarily unable to pay their bills or debts due to a crime 

Defendant - a person formally charged with committing a specific crime (the person who committed the crime against the victim) 

Disposition - the final decision that ends a criminal proceeding by either acquitting or dismissing the case, OR sets the sentence if the defendant had been convicted  

Felony - a serious crime, punishable by more than one year in prison

Guilty pleas - a defendant's formal admission to committing the crime they are charged with 

Loss documentation - information, including security footage, receipts, invoices, or any other information, that could assist a victim in making a claim  

Parole - release of a prisoner from prison, but not from legal custody  

Pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity - a defendant's formal denial of guilt because of mental disease or defect excluding responsibility  

Preliminary hearing - hearing for a person charged with a felony before a judge. The state must establish that there is probable cause (that it is likely) to believe that the accused (the defendant) committed the specific crime charged.  

Probation revocation hearing - a court proceeding in which a judge determines whether a person had violated the terms on their probation. This can POTENTIALLY lead to return to jail or prison. 

Prosecutor - a lawyer employed by the government to represent the public's interests in court proceedings against people accused of committing crimes 

Restitution - payment made by a defendant to a victim as to repay monetary losses that occurred as a result of the crime 

Trial docket - a list of cases scheduled for trial on a specific day; the position of a case on the list determines whether it will actually go to trial on that day  

Victim impact statement - a statement given by a victim that explains how the crime has affected them. This is the ONLY WAY a victim can address the judge, who decides the sentencing of the defendant. This can be offered in-person, in written form, by audio, or by video, depending on the judge.