Seizure is when the government or its agent removes property from an individual's possession following unlawful activity or to satisfy a judgment entered by the court.
Seizure of property is a common remedy in a legal action...
criminal law and procedure
self-defense
Self-defense is the use of force to protect oneself from an attempted injury by another. If justified, self-defense is a defense in criminal and tort law. It is used in unlawful acts involving force, such as murder,...
self-incrimination
Self-incrimination is the intentional or unintentional act of providing information that will suggest your involvement in a crime, or expose you to criminal prosecution.
The Fifth Amendment provides protection to individuals...
sentence
A sentence is the judgment that a court formally delivers after finding a criminal defendant guilty. "Sentence" refers to the term of imprisonment or probation imposed on a convicted defendant for their criminal wrongdoing.
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sentencing
sentencing: an overview
A criminal sentence refers to the formal legal consequences associated with a conviction. Types of sentences include probation, fines, short-term incarceration, suspended sentences, which only take effect if the convict fails...
separate sovereigns doctrine
The separate sovereigns doctrine, also known as the Dual Sovereignty Doctrine, allows separate sovereignties, like Federal and State governments, to individually prosecute a defendant for the same crime. The multiple prosecutions do not...
sequester
To sequester is the act of isolating someone during trial proceedings. The jury, or witnesses, may be sequestered to preserve fairness during the trial. Thus, when not fulfilling their roles at trial, sequestered persons may live in a hotel...
sex trafficking
Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking which transports or exploits persons to use them for sexual acts. Title 22, Section 7102 of the U.S. Code defines sex trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision,...
sexual slavery
Sexual slavery refers to the systematic enslavement of individuals for sexual purposes, forcing them to perform sexual acts against their will. It involves controlling a person through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sexual...
shoplifting
Shoplifting is generally defined as the unauthorized removal of merchandise from a store without paying for it, or intentionally paying less for an item than its sale price. However, shoplifting can include carrying, hiding, concealing, or...