Dictionary of Law
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time served :: legal definition


Time served - n. the period a criminal defendant has been in jail, often while awaiting bail or awaiting trial. Often a judge will give a defendant "credit for time served," particularly when sentencing for misdemeanors. Example: Johnny Jumpstart was arrested for drunk driving and spent the night in jail before he was released on his own recognizance. Since the minimum sentence in his state was 48 hours, the judge will sentence him to that time, less 14 hours for time served. After lengthy waits in jail before trial, "time served" may become very important to the defendant.

See also: sentence and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

admission to bail :: n. an order of a court in a criminal case allowing ... lient. See also: bail bail bondsman
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration
back-to-back life sentences :: n. slang for consecutive life terms imposed by a j ... ther 25 years for a parole hearing.
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
concurrent sentences :: n. sentences for more than one crime which are to ... ith the longest period controlling.
contempt of court :: n. there are essentially two types of contempt: a) ... roduce evidence. See also: sanction
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
cross-complaint :: n. after a complaint has been filed against a defe ... g prayer service of process summons
cumulative sentence :: n. when a criminal defendant has been found guilty ... in a five-year term in the example.
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
indeterminate sentence :: n. the prison term imposed after conviction for a ... w in the future. See also: sentence
information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
motion for dismissal :: (non-suit) n. application by a defendant in a laws ... otion for nonsuit. See also: motion
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity
own recognizance :: (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person ... n recognizance. See also: bail O.R.
plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
pro tem :: 1) adj. short for the Latin pro tempore, temporari ... as "Sam Collins is Pro Tem today."
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
service by publication :: n. serving a summons or other legal document in a ... perty. See also: service of process
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
speedy trial :: n. in criminal prosecutions, the right of a defend ... hurt by the waiver. See also: trial
successive sentences :: n. in criminal law, the imposition of the penalty ... uld be 15 years. See also: sentence
summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ
suspended sentence :: n. in criminal law, a penalty applied by a judge t ... may be enforced. See also: sentence

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.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
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 - T

T.R.O. :: n. legal slang for temporary restraining order. Se ... order. See also: restraining order
tainted evidence :: n. in a criminal trial, information which has been ... e search and seizure search warrant
take :: v. to gain or obtain possession, including the rec ... eal property or stealing an object.
taking the Fifth :: n. the refusal to testify on the ground that the t ... ifth." See also: self-incrimination
tangible property :: n. physical articles (things) as distinguished fro ... operty personal property personalty
tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax
tax costs :: n. a motion to contest a claim for court costs sub ... sts" to avoid paying these charges.
Tax Court :: n. a federal agency with courts in major cities wh ... Appeals. See also: court income tax
tax evasion :: n. intentional and fraudulent attempt to escape pa ... o reduce the amount of payable tax.
tax return :: n. the form to be filed with a taxing authority by ... able to the taxpayer. See also: tax
tax sale :: n. an auction sale of a taxpayer's property conduc ... government to collect unpaid taxes.
temporary injunction :: n. a court order prohibiting an action by a party ... ry injunction. See also: injunction
temporary insanity :: n. in a criminal prosecution, a defense by the acc ... diminished capacity insanity intent
tenancy :: n. the right to occupy real property permanently, ... rety tenancy in common tenant title
tenancy at sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
tenancy at will :: n. occupation of real property owned by another un ... right to occupy. See also: tenancy
tenancy by the entirety :: n. joint ownership of title by husband and wife, i ... ee also: community property tenancy
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
tenant :: n. a person who occupies real property owned by an ... rental payments. See also: tenancy
tender :: 1) v. to present to another person an unconditiona ... he tender. See also: delivery offer