Disclaimer: All completed conditions of probation are subject to the approval of the Probation Officer. The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice.
Glossary of Terms
Defendant
Any person accused (charged) of committing an offense.
Offense
An act defined as punishable under criminal law.
Conditional Discharge
A sentence passed by a court whereby the defendant is not convicted, provided they comply with general and special conditions. If the conditions are not met, the defendant is re-sentenced.
First Offender
A sentence passed by a court whereby the defendant is not convicted, provided they comply with general and special conditions. If the conditions are not met, the defendant is re-sentenced.
Disposition
The ruling of the court. This is where the Judge/jury decides if the defendant is guilty or not guilty. It could be that a case is being dismissed or that an offense is being merged with another offense.
Guilty
The defendant is found to have committed the offense in which he/she was arrested for.
Nolo Contendere
A plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes an offense, serving as an alternative to a plea of guilty or not guilty. A nolo contendere plea, while not technically a guilty plea, has the same immediate effect as a guilty plea.
Merge
When 1 or more offenses are combined with another offense.
Nollo Prosequi
The offense is dismissed.
Probation
A jail sentence that the court is allowing the defendant to serve out of jail, as long as certain general and special conditions are met.
Revocation
When you fail to do as the Judge ordered, the Judge puts you in jail for any portion of your probation. It can be a couple of days up to the balance of your probation sentence.