Glossary: NNaming. Identifying a person in a legal action. Narcoterrorism. The concept of redefining drug trafficking as terrorism. Natural Law. See entry for the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Necessity. A situation that compels an act because of some need; can provide grounds for an affirmative defense. See full article titled Defenses of Necessity and Choice of Lesser Evils Negligence. A mens rea designation where the defendant unknowingly creates an unreasonable risk which causes some prohibited harm. Compare with reckless. Negligent Homicide. See full article titled Negligent Homicide / Manslaughter Negligent Practices. Negligent supervision, hiring, training or retention of personnel; grounds for civil suits against public agencies. Negotiated Guilty Plea. An admission of guilt in exchange for some soft of sentencing leniency. Neil v. Biggers. [409 U.S. 188 (1972)]. Established a totality of the circumstances test in determining whether eyewitness identifications are reliable. Neutralization Theory. Theory championed by Sykes and Matza which holds that criminals learn techniques that allow them to rationalize their behavior, disallow responsibility for harm, and avoid guilt. New Trial. A new trial to determine guilt or innocence; usually occurs after a hung jury or a higher court setting aside a verdict. New York House of Refuge. A school established in New York in 1825 by the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism; primarily treated status offenders. New York v. P. J. Video, Inc. [475 U.S. 868 (1986)]. "An application for a warrant authorizing the seizure of materials presumptively protected by the First Amendment should be evaluated under the same probable-cause standard used to review warrant applications generally, namely, that there is a "fair probability" that evidence of a crime will be found in the particular place to be searched." New York v. Quarles. [467 U.S. 649 (1984)]. Established an exigent circumstances exception to Miranda. No Bill. Grand jury decision that not enough evidence exists to go to trail in a particular case; there was no probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and a specific person committed it. Nix v.Williams. [467 U.S. 431 (1984)]. Created the inevitable discovery exception to the exclusionary rule whereby illegally obtained evidence can be admitted if the state can show that the evidence would have been found anyway through lawful means. Nolle Prosequi. [Latin.] A prosecutorial dismissal of charges. Nolo Contendere. [Latin.] "No contest." Treated as a guilty plea; the defendant does not dispute the facts of the case. See North Carolina v. Alford (1970). See also Plea. Nominal Dispositions. A juvenile proceeding in which the juvenile is warned, but returned to the custody of parents. Nonpartisan Elections. A voting process in which candidates do not run as members of political parties. Nonsecure Confinement. A facility that emphasizes the treatment of juveniles that are deemed to need no restraints placed on them to protect the public. Nonsuit. The failure of the plaintiff to state a case upon which relief can be granted; equivalent to a finding for the defendant. North Carolina v. Butler [441 U.S. 369 (1979)]. "An explicit statement of waiver is not invariably necessary to support a finding that the defendant waived the right to counsel guaranteed by the Miranda case." Not Guilty. A plea officially denying guilt. Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. A verdict which indicates that the defense has proven to the jury's satisfaction that the accused committed the act, but was not culpable because of legal insanity. Notice. An official notification to someone about a forthcoming legal proceeding; often requires attendance. Notice of Appeal. A formal document that notifies a court that the sentence is to be appealed to a higher court. Nullen crimen, nulla poena, sine lege. [Latin.] "There is no crime, there is no punishment, without law." This page available at: |