Dictionary of Law
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entrapment :: legal definition


Entrapment - n. in criminal law, the act of law enforcement officers or government agents inducing or encouraging a person to commit a crime when the potential criminal expresses a desire not to go ahead. The key to entrapment is whether the idea for the commission or encouragement of the criminal act originated with the police or government agents instead of with the "criminal." Entrapment, if proved, is a defense to a criminal prosecution. The accused often claims entrapment in so-called "stings" in which undercover agents buy or sell narcotics, prostitutes' services or arrange to purchase goods believed to be stolen. The factual question is: Would Johnny Begood have purchased the drugs if not pressed by the narc?


Related Law Terms

administrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act
advisory opinion :: n. an opinion stated by a judge or a court upon th ... o: actual controversy friendly suit
agency :: n. the relationship of a person (called the agent) ... ondeat superior scope of employment
agent :: n. a person who is authorized to act for another ( ... issues. See also: agency authority
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
antitrust laws :: n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict ... so: price fixing restraint of trade
apparent authority :: n. the appearance of being the agent of another (e ... e also: agency ostensible authority
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
authority :: n. permission, a right coupled with the power to d ... rize ostensible authority principal
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
cartel :: n. 1) an arrangement among supposedly independent ... Colombia. See also: antitrust laws
case system :: n. the method of studying law generally used in Am ... Langdell and soon became standard.
cashier's check :: n. a check issued by a bank on its own account for ... ansfers, tax payments and the like.
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
common law :: n. the traditional unwritten law of England, based ... plied without reference to statute.
condemnation :: n. the legal process by which a governmental body ... eminent domain inverse condemnation
confess :: v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
consumer protection laws :: n. almost all states and the federal government ha ... rranty product liability securities
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
decriminalization :: n. the repeal or amendment of statutes which made ... gh clinics and other legal sources.
dedication :: n. the giving of land by a private person or entit ... perty. See also: quiet title action
dismissal :: n. 1) the act of voluntarily terminating a crimina ... f the settlement. See also: dismiss
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
in propria persona :: adj. from Latin "for one's self," acting on one's ... client and an ass for an attorney."
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
Jones Act :: n., adj. a federal law which covers injuries to cr ... ." See also: admiralty maritime law
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
mandamus :: (man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (mor ... mandamus. See also: writ of mandate
maxims :: n. a collection of legal truisms which are used as ... e and the ordinary habits of life."
moral turpitude :: n. gross violation of standards of moral conduct, ... r penalty for a criminal defendant.
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
nominee :: n. 1) a person or entity who is requested or named ... ic office. See also: agent executor
official misconduct :: n. improper and/or illegal acts by a public offici ... ty. See also: color of law official
principal :: n. 1) main person in a business. 2) employer, the ... ry agency agent respondeat superior
privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights.
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
prosecution :: n. 1) in criminal law, the government attorney cha ... se). See also: prosecute prosecutor
prosecutor :: n. generic term for the government's attorney in a ... ee also: Attorney General prosecute
qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors.
regulations :: n. rules and administrative codes issued by govern ... es usually have similar procedures.
retroactive :: adj. referring to a court's decision or a statute ... ospective." See also: ex post facto
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
sheriff :: n. the top law enforcement officer for a county, u ... ." See also: bailiff sheriff's sale
special prosecutor :: n. an attorney from outside of the government sele ... Robert Bork finally discharged Cox.
tort claims act :: n. a federal or state act which, under certain con ... . See also: Federal Tort Claims Act
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
variance :: n. 1) an exception to a zoning ordinance, authoriz ... process." See also: dismissal proof

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 - E

earnest payment :: n. a deposit paid to demonstrate commitment and to ... (liquidated) or committed damages.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
egress :: n. way of departure. A word usually used in conjun ... unction with "access" or "ingress."
EIR :: n. popular acronym for environmental impact report ... e also: environmental impact report
ejectment :: n. a lawsuit brought to remove a party who is occu ... o the property through her parents.
ejusdem generis :: (eh-youse-dem generous) v adj. Latin for "of the s ... t was of land-based transportation.
elder law :: n. a specialty in legal practice, covering estate ... t field. (definition revised: 9/02)
election of remedies :: n. an outmoded requirement that if a plaintiff (pa ... dence has not been fully presented.
election under the will :: n. in those states which have statutes which give ... arries) left to her under his will.
eleemosynary :: (eh-luh-moss-uh-nary) adj. charitable, as applied ... pplied to a purpose or institution.
element :: n. 1) an essential requirement to a cause of actio ... of action crime general plan zoning
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
embezzlement :: n. the crime of stealing the funds or property of ... in trust. See also: embezzler theft
embezzler :: n. a person who commits the crime of embezzlement ... r property of an employer or trust.
emblements :: n. crops to which a tenant who cultivated the land ... ome the property of his/her estate.
emergency :: n. a sudden, unforeseen happening which requires a ... r to protect lives and/or property.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
emolument :: n. salary, wages and benefits paid for employment ... d for employment or an office held.
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
employee :: n. a person who is hired for a wage, salary, fee o ... ondeat superior scope of employment