criminal law and procedure

A bond refers to an obligation to pay a specified amount of money.

A bondsman is a person who guarantees a bond. Bondsmen are most frequently seen in the context of bail bondsman for criminal defendants. 

Booking is the process where information about a criminal suspect is entered into the system of a police station or jail after that person’s arrest. Exact procedures may vary amongst jurisdictions, but most share similar features.

The Brady rule, named after Brady v. Maryland, requires prosecutors to disclose material, exculpatory information in the government's possession to the defense.

• criminal procedure

A breach is a violation of law or when a party fails to perform their part of a contractual agreement. For more information, see breach of contract. 

[Last reviewed in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Breaking and entering is defined as the entering of a building through force without authorization. The slightest force including pushing open a door is all that is necessary. Breaking also includes entering a building through fraud, threats, or collusion.

A breathalyzer is the device used by law enforcement authorities to determine the amount of alcohol in a driver’s system through a breath sample.

[Last reviewed in April of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Bribery is defined generally as corrupt solicitation, acceptance, or transfer of value in exchange for official action.

A bright-line rule is an objective rule that resolves legal questions in a straightforward, predictable manner. Because bright-line rules determine outcome entirely based on objective factors, they best allow parties to conduct their affairs in ways that won’t result in lawsuits at the cost of a lack of flexibility when dealing with individual nuances. This lack of flexibility can lead to what many consider inequitable outcomes. 

A burden is a generic term referring to a restriction on use or activity. Often, the term arises in property law. For instance, real property may carry an intangible burden in the form of covenants or easements.