| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Probation | Suspension of sentence with or without adjudication and placing the defendant under supervision of the Department of Corrections for a specified period of time and possible conditions. |
| Prosecutor | A trial lawyer representing the government in a criminal case and the interests of the state in civil matters. In criminal cases, the prosecutor has the responsibility of deciding who and when to prosecute. |
| Proximate cause | The act that caused an event to occur. A person generally is liable only if an injury was proximately caused by his/her action or by his/her failure to act when he/she had a duty to act. |
| Public defender | A court-appointed attorney for those defendants who are declared indigent. |
Glossary
