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A minor violation of Islamic law that is regarded as an offense against society, not God.
team policing
The reorganization of conventional patrol strategies into "an integrated and versatile police team assigned to a fixed district."49
technocrime
A criminal offense that employs advanced or emerging technology in its commission.
teen court
An alternative approach to juvenile justice in which alleged offenders are judged and sentenced by a jury of their peers.
TEMPEST
A standard developed by the U.S. government that requires that electromagnetic emanations from computers designated as "secure" be below levels that would allow radio receiving equipment to "read" the data being computed.
terrorism
A violent act or an act dangerous to human life in violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any state committed to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.50
testimony
Oral evidence offered by a sworn witness on the witness stand during a criminal trial.
theft
Generally, any taking of the property of another with intent to deprive the rightful owner of possession permanently.
theory
A set of interrelated propositions that attempt to describe, explain, predict, and ultimately control some class of events. A theory gains explanatory power from inherent logical consistency and is "tested" by how well it describes and predicts reality.
three-strikes laws
Statutes that require mandatory sentences (sometimes life in prison without the possibility of parole) for offenders convicted of a third felony. Such mandatory sentencing enhancements are aimed at deterring known and potentially violent offenders and are intended to incapacitate convicted criminals through long-term incarceration.
tort
A wrongful act, damage, or injury not involving a breach of contract. Also, a private or civil wrong or injury.
total institution
An enclosed facility, separated from society both socially and physically, where the inhabitants share all aspects of their lives daily.
transfer to adult court
The decision by a juvenile court, resulting from a transfer hearing, that jurisdiction over an alleged delinquent will be waived and that he or she should be prosecuted as an adult in a criminal court.
transnational crime
Unlawful activity undertaken and supported by organized criminal groups operating across national boundaries.
treason
A U.S. citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the United States.51 Also, the attempt to overthrow the government of the society of which one is a member.
trial
In criminal proceedings, the examination in court of the issues of fact and relevant law in a case for the purpose of convicting or acquitting the defendant.
trial de novo
Literally, "new trial." The term is applied to cases that are retried on appeal, as opposed to those that are simply reviewed on the record.
trial judge
A judicial officer who is authorized to conduct jury and nonjury trials but who may not be authorized to hear appellate cases. Also, the judicial officer who conducts a particular trial.
trial jury
A statutorily defined number of people selected according to law and sworn to determine, in accordance with the law as instructed by the court, certain matters of fact based on evidence presented in a trial and to render a verdict. Also called petit jury.
truth in sentencing
A close correspondence between the sentence imposed on an offender and the time actually served in prison.52
49. Sam S. Souryal, Police Administration and Management (St. Paul, MN: West, 1977), p. 261.
50. Federal Bureau of Intelligence, Counterterrorism Section, Terrorism in the United States, 1987 (Washington, D.C.: FBI, 1987).
51. Daniel Oran, Oran's Dictionary of the Law (St. Paul, MN: West, 1983), p. 306.
52. Lawrence A. Greenfeld, "Prison Sentences and Time Served for Violence," Bureau of Justice Statistics Selected Findings, No. 4 (April 1995).
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