Glossary: G

Gacy, John Wayne.  See full article titled John Wayne Gacy. 

Gag Order.  An order by a judge that all parties involved in a case may not discuss it outside of court.

Gagnon v. Scarpelli. [411 U.S. 778 (1973)].  "Due process mandates preliminary and final revocation hearings in the case of a probationer under the same conditions as are specified in Morrissey v. Brewer in the case of a parolee."

General Deterrence.  A conceptualization of deterrence based on the idea that people who witness the pain suffered by those who commit crimes will desire to avoid those pains and will thus refrain from criminality.  Compare with Specific Deterrence.   

General Jurisdiction.  Courts of general jurisdiction have the authority to hear a wide range of cases, both civil and criminal.

General Part of Criminal Law.  Principles that apply to all crimes.

Geographic Jurisdiction.  The power to hear cases based on the legally defined boundaries of cities, counties, and states.

Gerstein v. Pugh [420 U.S. 103 (1975)].  "The Fourth Amendment requires a judicial determination of probable cause as a prerequisite to extended restraint of liberty following arrest."  See also County of Riverside v. McLaughlin.

Get-tough Policies.  Policies aimed at increasing sentence lengths and toughening conditions of confinement in an effort to reduce crime.

Gideon v. Wainwright [372 U.S. 335 (1963)].  "The right of an indigent defendant in a criminal trial to have the assistance of counsel is a fundamental right essential to a fair trial, and petitioner's trial and conviction without the assistance of counsel violated the Fourteenth Amendment."

Good Faith Exception.  The doctrine established in U.S. v. Leon (1984) that evidence illegally obtained is admissible where the police are found to have acted in good faith on the belief that their search was legal.  See section titled Leading Cases in Remedies for Violations of Constitutional Rights.

Good Time.  Time subtracted from an inmates sentence for good behavior while incarcerated.

Graham v. Connor. [490 U.S. 386 (1989)].  "All claims that law enforcement officials have used excessive force - deadly or not - in the course of an arrest, investigatory stop, or other "seizure" of a free citizen are properly analyzed under the Fourth Amendment's "objective reasonableness" standard, rather than under a substantive due process standard."

Grand Jury.  An investigative body that determines if enough probable cause exists to take a case forward to trial; also returns formal charges.

Grid Search Method. [Forensics]. A search method where perpendicular lanes divide the search area into a "grid" of small squares.

Grievance.  A formalized process whereby institutionalized individuals can lodge complaints about the conditions of their confinement.

Gross Criminal Negligence.  Very great negligence. 

Gross Misdemeanor.  Offense with a maximum penalty of close to one year in jail.

Group Home.  A nonsecure custodial living arrangement for juveniles where they live in a homelike environment with other juveniles.

GSR. [Acronym].  Gunshot residue.

GSR Analysis. [Forensics].  Examination of the hands (and sometimes other areas) for materials resulting from the firing of a firearm.

Guardian ad Litem.  A court-appointed attorney who's duty it is to look after the best interest of the child in cases involving the child's welfare.

Guilty But Mentally Ill.  An alternative verdict allowable in some jurisdictions in capital cases that is based on the standard that the defendant was mentally ill but also was sufficiently aware to be held culpable for the crime.

Guilty Plea.  A defendant's formal admission of guilt.  See also Plea. 

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