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Unlawful taking or attempted taking of property other than a motor vehicle from the possession of another, by stealth, without force and without deceit, with intent to deprive the owner of the property permanently.
larceny-theft (UCR)
Unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away by stealth of property, other than a motor vehicle from the possession or constructive possession of another, including attempts.
law
A rule of conduct, generally found enacted in the form of a statute, which proscribes and/or mandates certain forms of behavior. Statutory law is often the result of moral enterprise by interest groups that, through the exercise of political power, are successful in seeing their valuative perspectives enacted into law.
law enforcement
The generic name for the activities of the agencies responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing the law, particularly the activities of prevention, detection, and investigation of crime and the apprehension of criminals.
law enforcement agency
A federal, state, or local criminal justice agency or identifiable subunit of which the principal functions are the prevention, detection, and investigation of crime, and the apprehension of alleged offenders.
law enforcement officer
An employee of a law enforcement agency who is an officer sworn to carry out law enforcement duties.
lawyer
See attorney.
lay witness
An eyewitness, character witness, or any other person called upon to testify who is not considered an expert. Lay witnesses must testify to facts alone and may not draw conclusions or express opinions.
legal cause
A legally-recognizable cause. The type of cause that is required to be demonstrated in court in order to hold an individual criminally liable for causing harm.
legalistic style
A style of policing that is marked by a strict concern with enforcing the precise letter of the law. Legalistic departments, however, may take a "hands-off" approach to otherwise disruptive or problematic forms of behavior that are not violations of the criminal law.
legalization
(of drugs) Eliminates the laws and associated criminal penalties that prohibit the production, sale, distribution, and possession of a controlled substance.
lex talionis
The law of retaliation, often expressed as "an eye for an eye," or like for like.
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