As used in sections 217.650 to 217.810, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms mean:

(1) “Chairperson”, chairperson of the parole board who shall be appointed by the governor;

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 217.650

  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Board: the parole board. See Missouri Laws 217.010
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Division: a statutorily created agency within the department or an agency created by the departmental organizational plan. See Missouri Laws 217.010
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Offender: a person under supervision or an inmate in the custody of the department. See Missouri Laws 217.010
  • 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.
  • Probation: a procedure under which a defendant found guilty of a crime upon verdict or plea is released by the court without imprisonment, subject to conditions imposed by the court and subject to the supervision of the division of probation and parole. See Missouri Laws 217.010
  • 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 any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.

(2) “Diversionary program”, a program designed to utilize alternatives to incarceration undertaken under the supervision of the division of probation and parole after commitment of an offense and prior to arraignment;

(3) “Parole”, the release of an offender to the community by the court or the state parole board prior to the expiration of his term, subject to conditions imposed by the court or the parole board and to its supervision by the division of probation and parole;

(4) “Parole board”, the state board of parole;

(5) “Prerelease program”, a program relating to an offender’s preparation for, or orientation to, supervision by the division of probation and parole immediately prior to or immediately after assignment of the offender to the division of probation and parole for supervision;

(6) “Pretrial program”, a program relating to the investigation or supervision of persons referred or assigned to the division of probation and parole prior to their conviction;

(7) “Probation”, a procedure under which a defendant found guilty of a crime upon verdict or plea is released by the court without imprisonment, subject to conditions imposed by the court and subject to the supervision of the division of probation and parole;

(8) “Recognizance program”, a program relating to the release of an individual from detention who is under arrest for an offense for which he or she may be released as provided in section 544.455.