Terms Used In Iowa Code > Chapter 708 - Assault

• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Child: includes child by adoption. See Iowa Code 4.1
• clerk: means clerk of the court in which the action or proceeding is brought or is pending; and the words "clerk's office" mean the office of that clerk. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Correctional staff: means a person who is not a peace officer but who is employed by the department of corrections or a judicial district department of correctional services to work at or in a correctional institution, community-based correctional facility, or an institution under the management of the Iowa department of corrections which is used for the purposes of confinement of persons who have committed public offenses. See Iowa Code 708.3A
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Employee of the department of human services: means a person who is an employee of an institution controlled by the director of human services that is listed in section 218. See Iowa Code 708.3A
• Employee of the department of revenue: means a person who is employed as an auditor, agent, tax collector, or any contractor or representative acting in the same capacity. See Iowa Code 708.3A
• following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Health care provider: means an emergency medical care provider as defined in chapter 147A or a person licensed or registered under chapter 148, 148C, 148D, or 152 who is providing or who is attempting to provide emergency medical services, as defined in section 147A. See Iowa Code 708.3A
• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Jailer: means a person who is employed by a county or other political subdivision of the state to work at a county jail or other facility used for purposes of the confinement of persons who have committed public offenses, but who is not a peace officer. See Iowa Code 708.3A
• Magistrate: means a judicial officer appointed under chapter 602, article 6, part 4. See Iowa Code 4.1
• National guard: means the same as defined in section 29A. See Iowa Code 708.3A
• National guard duty: means the same as defined in section 29A. See Iowa Code 708.3A
• person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
• State active duty: means the same as defined in section 29A. See Iowa Code 708.3A
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1