Terms Used In Missouri Laws 532.640

  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

If any officer or other person, upon whom a writ of habeas corpus shall be duly served, shall neglect or refuse to obey the same, by producing the party therein named, and making a full and explicit return to the writ, as required by this chapter, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and also forfeit to the party aggrieved a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars.