Say Their Name Glossary of Terms
Understanding Law Enforcement & Legal Terminology
One of the best things we can do for ourselves is knowing our rights and understanding the terminology used during and after a police encounter, and while navigating the legal system. Please use these terms to better understand the system and the terminology used in the Say Their Name podcast.
**Check back regularly for updated terms**
Appeal: Request for a higher court to review a lower court's decision.
Civil Disobedience: Nonviolent refusal to obey certain laws as a form of protest.
Civil Rights Case: A lawsuit filed to protect an individual's rights under the Constitution or federal laws, often used in cases of police misconduct.
Compliance: In the context of police encounters, it refers to both police officers adhering to legal and ethical standards and citizens following lawful instructions during interactions.
Constitutional Rights: Fundamental rights guaranteed to all citizens, which police officers are expected to protect.
Court Fees: Costs associated with legal proceedings, sometimes imposed on plaintiffs.
De-escalation: Techniques used by law enforcement to reduce the intensity of a conflict or potentially dangerous situation.
DWI (Driving While Intoxicated): A legal charge for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Grand Jury: A legal body that determines whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. It does not decide guilt or innocence but rather decides if a case should proceed to trial.
Good Guy Letter: A letter allowing a terminated officer to potentially seek employment in other law enforcement agencies.
Imminent Danger: A situation where there is an immediate threat to life or safety, justifying the use of force.
Mental Health Stigma: The negative perception associated with seeking mental health support, particularly within law enforcement.
Miranda Warning: A legal requirement in the U.S. that police must inform a suspect of their rights before interrogation, including the right to remain silent and that anything said can be used against them in court.
On View: A situation where police can see evidence of a crime in plain sight, which can justify a search without a warrant.
Qualified Immunity: A legal doctrine that protects government officials, including police officers, from being held personally liable for constitutional violations unless their actions violate "clearly established" statutory or constitutional rights. This standard often makes it difficult to hold officials accountable for misconduct unless there is a nearly identical case that has already been decided.
Search Incidental to Arrest: A legal principle allowing police to search a person and their immediate surroundings without a warrant if they are being lawfully arrested.
Service Weapon: A firearm issued to police officers for duty use.
Stand Your Ground: A self-defense law that allows individuals to use force, including deadly force, without retreating if they reasonably believe they are in imminent danger of harm or death.
Terry Stop: A brief detention of a person by police on reasonable suspicion of involvement in criminal activity.
Tone Policing: A practice where the focus is shifted from the content of a conversation to the tone in which it is delivered, often used to dismiss or undermine the speaker's message.
Wrongful Death Case: A legal action brought against a person or entity who has caused someone's death through negligence or misconduct.