Glossary: HHabeas Corpus [Latin.] "produce the body." The name of a writ demanding someone holding a prisoner to appear before the court with the prisoner and justify holding them prisoner. Habeas Corpus Petition. An official document asking an appeals court to hear a prisoner's case or hear complaints about the nature of the confinement. Habitual Offender Laws. See Three Strikes. Hafer v. Melo. [502 U.S. 21 (1991)]. State officers may be held personally liable for damages under 1983 based upon actions taken in their official capacities, but not when acting in a private capacity. Hair Standard. [Forensics]. A sample of hair obtained from an individual for use in a comparison with evidence hairs. Halfway Houses. Programs that allow prisoners to reintegrate into the community in steps. Hampton v. United States [425 U.S. 484 (1976)]. It is not entrapment by the police if an informant supplies drugs to a suspect who is already predisposed to buy drugs. Harmful Error. A mistake made by a judge that may be prejudicial to a defendant's case that can lead to a reversal. Harmless Error. Any mistake during a trial that is not deemed sufficient to harm the rights of the defendant. Hate Crimes. See full article titled Hate Crimes. Hearing. Any formal proceeding in which the court resolves a dispute between the prosecution and the defense in a case. Hearsay. Information that is given by witness based on the statements of another person and not gained firsthand. Hearsay Rule. Rule of law that hearsay cannot be used in court unless it falls under one of several exceptions to the rule. Hedonism. Human beings seek pleasure and avoid pain. See full article titled Hedonic Calculus. Hierarchy Rule. Data collection practice for the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports where only the most serious crime in incidents involving multiple crimes is counted. Hoffa v. United States [385 U.S. 293 (1966)]. Evidence obtained by the Government by means of deceptively placing a secret informer in the quarters and councils of a defendant during one criminal trial does not violates the defendant's Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights such that suppression of such evidence is required in a subsequent trial of the same defendant on a different charge. Holding. The rule of law drawn from a court's decision. Home Confinement. Housing an offender his his or her own home. Homicide. General term encompassing both murder and manslaughter; the killing of a live human being by another. Horton v. California. [496 U.S. 128 (1990)]. "The Fourth Amendment does not prohibit the warrantless seizure of evidence in plain view even though the discovery of the evidence was not inadvertent." Huddleston v. United States [485 U.S. 681 (1988)]. "Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) provides that evidence of "other crimes, wrongs, or acts" is not admissible to prove a person's character, but may be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of knowledge. The district court need not itself make a preliminary finding that the Government has proved the "other act" by a preponderance of the evidence before it submits "similar acts" and other Rule 404(b) evidence to the jury." Hull House. A shelter for homeless children; established by Jane Addams in Chicago during the 1890s. Hung Jury. A jury whose members cannot come to an agreement on a verdict. This page available at: |