Glossary

A

to intimidate a person by approaching and speaking in a bold and aggressive manner.

distresses and makes a person angry by bothering repeatedly.

acquired immune deficiency syndrome - an immune disorder the virus caused by HIV transmitted from contaminated body fluids. i.e. blood and semen.

Anal intercourse:

penetration of penis into anus.

Assault:

a violent or sudden attack or an unlawful threat to do harm to another.

Authority:

a person looked to as an expert with the power to influence the behaviour of others.

B

Bail:

money or property deposited with the court as a guarantee that the accused will come back for a hearing or trial.

Blame:

find fault with, to hold responsible.

Bribe:

offering something such as money or a favour to influence a decision or action of dishonesty.

C

Charges:

to make an accusation in order to bring to trial.

Clues:

small bits of information, hints, or suggestions, which allows a person to solve a mystery.

Committed:

to perform a crime i.e. sexual assault.

Communication:

exchange of information, sending and receiving messages.

Complicated:

complex, difficult, puzzling.

Confidential:

private information, restricted, personal.

Consent:

agree to, give permission, say yes.

Councils:

to give advice, discuss and deliberate.

Counsellor:

advisor, mentor a person who advises you on personal or legal issues.

Court:

a building or a room where judgement of law is decided.

Credits:

recognition of achievement, a list of individuals who have contributed to the success of a project.

Crimes:

offences or illegal actions punishable by law.

Criminal Code of Canada:

an act representing criminal law of Canada, a body of law that sets guidelines concerning the rules and regulations of illegal and unlawful conduct in Canadian law.

Crown attorney:

a prosecutor who is a trained lawyer who appears on behalf of the Crown in Canada.

Crucial:

an acute situation which one must act upon immediately.

Custody:

lock up, confinement or imprisonment.

D

Defendant:

a person against whom an action or claim is brought into a court of law.

Deteriorate:

to lower the quality or make worse.

Disclaimer:

disallowance or denial of one's right or claim.

DNA:

deoxyribonucleic acid - life's individual code of chromosomes and genes.

Douche:

cleanses female internal organs for hygienic reasons.

E

Evidence:

medical or other information that can be introduced as proof, or oral statements admissible as testimony in a court of law.

Examine:

observes carefully and inspect for clues.

Exploitation:

abuse, take advantages of or use other people for selfish purposes.

G

Gay:

a man whose sexual orientation is to men.

Genitals:

the organs of reproduction especially the external ones.

Guilty:

a person who is at fault after violating a law.

H

Harassing:

to annoy persistently, using offensive or troubling behaviour.

I

Impedes:

to delay, hinder, interfere or obstruct progress.

Incident:

a distinct occurrence or event that interrupts normal procedures.

Incites:

provokes and urges on i.e. to start a fight.

Indecent exposure:

to expose one's private body parts in a public place for sexual purposes.

Intimacy:

an emotional closeness, a deep bond, and a friendship.

Investigate:

to make inquiries to obtain evidence.

J

Judge:

the decision-maker and referee of all evidence in a court of law.

K

Kit:

set of useful items used for various tests, identification of evidence and medical treatment.

L

Lawyer:

legal advisor who assists people by representing them on legal matters.

Legal action:

start a process involving the criminal justice system.

Lesbian:

a female who is sexually orientated to females.

M

Medical evidence:

supporting information collected from the body i.e. samples of semen, hair follicles, urine, blood bruises, torn tissue to be used in court.

Medication:

pills or medical substances to treat illness.

Mentally sick:

a illness or mental disorder of the mind.

Myths:

any fictitious story, or unscientific account, theory or belief.

O

Oath:

a legally binding promise to tell the truth by swearing on the bible or other religious documents.

Offender:

a person who has done something wrong by breaking a law.

P

Period:

menstruation, women's monthly cycle/blood flow.

Physical evidence:

substantial proof, i.e. an injury, weapon, or document.

Police officer:

a law enforcer.

Pregnancy:

development of a baby from conception to birth.

Promiscuous:

to have casual sexual relations with many different people.

Provoke:

bugs, harass, annoy or bother.

Q

Quiz:

a short written or oral test.

R

Report:

make a verbal or written record or summary of a situation.

S

Sentence:

the consequences given by a judge for committing a crime.

Sexual assault:

an unwanted, uninvited sexual act.

Sexual interference:

touching a child under 14 for a sexual purpose.

Sexually transmitted disease:

a disease passed on or caught by having sexual relations, i.e. chlamydea, genital warts, herpes, syphilis.

Solemn affirmation:

a vow to tell the truth.

Spouse:

a partner in marriage, a wife or husband.

STD:

a disease passed on or caught by having sexual relations, i.e. chlamydea, genital warts, herpes, syphilis.

T

Testimony:

evidence given by a witness under oath.

Third party:

someone who is not directly involved.

Trauma:

serious shock, ordeal or injury to the body from violence or accident.

Trial:

a hearing, a court procedure, and an examination to determine innocence or guilt.

U

Urinate:

to eliminate urine from the body.

V

Vagina:

a muscular walled tube that serves as the entrance to the female reproductive tract.

VICLAS:

Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System - A computerized system used by the police to gather data on crimes.

Victim:

a person who has been preyed upon and taken advantage of.

Victim impact statement:

a written report given by the victim explaining how they were affected by the crime.