Glossary: V

Vacate.  To annul or set aside.

Vacated Sentence.  A sentence that has been declared nullified by a court.

Venire.  List of prospective jurors in a given jurisdiction.

Veniremen.  A member of a venire. 

Venue.  The place where a trail is to be held.

Venue, Change of.  Relocation of a trial from one location to another, usually because there is a perception that the trial will be biased in the original venue.

Verdict.  A decision made by judge or jury concerning the guilt or innocence of a defendant.

Vernonia School Dist. 47J v. Acton. No. 94-590 (1995). Upheld random drug testing in schools.

Vicarious Liability.  Doctrine under which employers can be held accountable for the actions of their employees.

Victim.  Person who has suffered as a result of an actual or attempted criminal action.

Victim Impact Statement.  A document attached to the presentence investigation report that describes injuries to victims; used by judges in sentencing an offender.

Vigilantism.  Where citizens take the law into their own hands, often dispensing justice with no regard to due process. 

Violation.  A legally prohibited act that is less serious that a misdemeanor, such as a traffic violation; usually punishable only by fine. 

Violent Felonies.  Any crime punishable by more than one year in prison or jail that causes serious bodily injury or death (e.g., aggravated assault, rape, murder). 

Virtue Theory.  See entry for the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 

Void for Overbreadth.  Laws that are unconstitutional because they are stated so broadly as to prohibit unobjectionable activities.

Void for Vagueness.  Laws that are unconstitutional because they do not provide clear definitions of the prohibited act. 

Voir Dire. [Old French].  "To Speak the Truth."  Interrogation process where both judges and attorneys can seek to identify biases and prejudices in potential jurors.  See also Edwin E. Wright's Voir Dire: Preparation, Communication, and Presentation Selection, Theory, and Strategy

Voluntary.  An act performed knowingly and without physical or psychological coercion.   

Voluntary Manslaughter.  Intentional killings committed in the heat of passion accompanied by adequate provocation. 

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