Terms Used In South Carolina Code > Title 23 > Chapter 50 - South Carolina Crimestoppers Act

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• clerk: as used in this title , signifies the clerk of the court where the action is pending and, in the Supreme Court or the court of appeals, the clerk of the county mentioned in the title of the complaint or in another county to which the court may have changed the place of trial, unless otherwise specified. See South Carolina Code 15-1-60
• Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Council: means the South Carolina Crimestoppers Council. See South Carolina Code 23-50-15
• Crimestoppers organization: means a private, nonprofit corporation that is organized under the laws of South Carolina that is operated on a local or statewide level, that accepts and expends donations for rewards to persons who report to the organization information about suspected criminal activity, that forwards the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency, is a member of the council, and that is qualified to receive reimbursed funds pursuant to § 23-50-30. See South Carolina Code 23-50-15
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Inter vivos: Transfer of property from one living person to another living person.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}
• Privileged communication: means a statement by any person, in any manner whatsoever, to a crimestoppers organization or to the council for the purpose of reporting alleged criminal activity and a communication from a crimestoppers organization or the council relaying the information received to a law enforcement agency. See South Carolina Code 23-50-15
• Probate: Proving a will
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• property: as used in this Title , includes both real and personal property. See South Carolina Code 15-1-50
• Protected identity: means the identity of any person reporting suspected criminal activity to a crimestoppers organization or to the council. See South Carolina Code 23-50-15
• Protected information: means any records, oral, written, or recorded statements, papers, documents, or any materials utilized by a crimestoppers organization or the council in reporting suspected criminal activity or in processing such information, whether such information is in the possession of a crimestoppers organization, the council, or a law enforcement agency receiving such information from a crimestoppers organization or the council. See South Carolina Code 23-50-15
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Reimbursed funds: means funds reimbursed pursuant to § 23-50-30. See South Carolina Code 23-50-15
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.