Terms Used In New York Laws > Civil Rights > Article 6

• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Felony: A crime carrying a penalty of more than a year in prison.
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Minority leader: See Floor Leaders
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.