37. charge

In legal terms, charge refers to a formal accusation made against a person, typically in criminal law. It signifies that a person is officially accused of committing a crime and may face legal proceedings. Charges are usually brought by law enforcement or prosecutors and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court. A charge can be classified as a felony (serious crime) or a misdemeanor (less serious crime). Defendants have the right to contest the charge, seek legal representation, and present a defense in court.

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reference

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1. Cornell Law School – Legal Information Institute: Criminal Charge

• URL: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/criminal_charge

• Explanation: This page provides a concise definition of a criminal charge, explaining it as a formal accusation made by a governmental authority asserting that an individual has committed a crime.

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2. FindLaw – Criminal Charges: Overview

• URL: https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-law-basics/criminal-charges-overview.html

• Explanation: This article offers an overview of criminal charges, detailing the process from the filing of charges to potential outcomes, and explaining the roles of various parties involved in the criminal justice system.

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3. LegalMatch – What Is a Criminal Charge?

• URL: https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/what-is-a-criminal-charge.html

• Explanation: This resource explains the concept of a criminal charge as a formal accusation made by a government authority against an alleged perpetrator, outlining the categories of criminal charges and their implications.

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4. University of Michigan – Student Legal Services: Criminal Definitions

• URL: https://studentlegalservices.umich.edu/article/criminal-definitions

• Explanation: This page provides definitions of various criminal law terms, including "charge," defined as a formal accusation of criminal activity decided upon by the prosecuting attorney after reviewing evidence.

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5. Law.com – Criminal Charge Definition

• URL: https://dictionary.law.com/Default.aspx?selected=295

• Explanation: This legal dictionary entry defines a criminal charge as a formal accusation of a crime, typically documented in a complaint, information, or indictment, initiating a prosecution.

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