Terms Used In Missouri Laws 542.020

  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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

The following officers shall have power and jurisdiction to cause to be kept all laws made for the preservation of the public peace, to issue process for the apprehension of persons charged with criminal offenses, and hold them to bail; require persons to give security to keep the peace, and to execute the powers and duties herein conferred in relation thereto: The judges of the supreme court throughout the state; judges of the court of appeals and circuit judges within their respective districts and circuits; associate circuit judges within their respective counties; municipal judges within the limits of their respective municipalities; provided that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to authorize municipal judges to exercise jurisdiction in prosecutions under the laws of this state, other than those instituted under sections 542.020 to 542.140 for surety to keep the peace.