Dictionary of Law
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confess :: legal definition


Confess - v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one is guilty of a criminal offense. This admission may be made to a law enforcement officer or in court either prior to or upon arrest, or after the person is charged with a specific crime. A confession must be truly voluntary (not forced by threat, torture, or trickery) and cannot be admitted in trial unless the defendant has been given the so-called Miranda warnings at the time of arrest or when it is clear he/she is the prime suspect, all based on the Fifth Amendment prohibition against self-incrimination. The Miranda warnings are: the right to remain silent, the right to have an attorney present and that one can be appointed, and that his/her statements may be used against the defendant in court.

See also: Bill of Rights confession Miranda warning self-incrimination and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

admission of guilt :: n. a statement by someone accused of a crime that ... ssion guilty Miranda warning rights
American Civil Liberties Union :: n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to de ... rk, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800.
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
civil rights :: n. those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, ... ill of Rights civil civil liberties
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
confession :: n. the statement of one charged with a crime that ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
confession and avoidance :: n. when a defendant admits the allegations in a co ... tries to avoid their legal impact.
confrontation :: n. 1) fight or argument. 2) the right of a crimina ... s. See also: Bill of Rights witness
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
defense attorney :: n. 1) the attorney representing the defendant in a ... lso: defendant plaintiff's attorney
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
diversion :: n. in criminal procedure, a system for giving a ch ... second offense. See also: probation
dower :: n. an old English common law right of a widow to o ... t and distribution widow's election
due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights.
entrapment :: n. in criminal law, the act of law enforcement off ... e drugs if not pressed by the narc?
equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
error :: n. a mistake by a judge in procedure or in substan ... or. See also: harmless error remand
fruit of the poisonous tree :: n. in criminal law, the doctrine that evidence dis ... property. See also: Miranda warning
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy
judgment creditor :: n. the winning plaintiff in a lawsuit to whom the ... 's rights judgment prevailing party
jump bail :: v. to fail to appear for a court appearance after ... also: bail bail bond bail bondsman
Magna Carta :: n. Latin for "Great Charter," it was a document de ... s. It is also spelled Magna Charta.
martial law :: n. a system of complete control by a country's mil ... n and women. See also: military law
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
M'Naughten rule :: n. a traditional "right and wrong" test of legal i ... temporary insanity Twinkie defense
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
motion in limine :: (lim-in-nay) n. Latin for "threshold," a motion ma ... o: in limine Miranda warning motion
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
nominal party :: n. a defendant or a plaintiff included in a lawsui ... ed. See also: necessary party party
plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing
plea bargain :: n. in criminal procedure, a negotiation between th ... the ban. See also: cop a plea plea
possession :: n. 1) any article, object, asset or property which ... ctive possession. See also: possess
prime suspect :: n. the one person law enforcement officers believe ... in trial. See also: Miranda warning
privilege against self incrimina-tion :: n. a right to refuse to testify against oneself in ... so: Bill of Rights taking the Fifth
procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made.
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
release on one's own recognizance :: v. for a judge to allow a criminal defendant pre-t ... ourtroom slang. See also: bail O.R.
retroactive :: adj. referring to a court's decision or a statute ... ospective." See also: ex post facto
rights :: n. 1) plural of right, which is the collection of ... evidence. See also: Miranda warning
roadside test :: n. a preliminary test law enforcement officers use ... g while intoxicated Miranda warning
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
speedy trial :: n. in criminal prosecutions, the right of a defend ... hurt by the waiver. See also: trial
substantive law :: n. law which establishes principles and creates an ... are conducted. See also: procedure
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
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mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.