Reference
Glossary of Jail & Court Terms
Booking paperwork and court hearings are full of jargon. Here are clear definitions of the terms you are most likely to run into on a jail roster or in a case.
A
- Arraignment
- An early court hearing where a defendant is formally told the charges against them and enters a plea. Bail is often addressed at this stage.
- Arresting agency
- The law enforcement department that took a person into custody — for example a sheriff's office, city police department, or state agency.
B
- Bail
- A financial guarantee that a released defendant will return for their court dates. Set by a judge, it is refundable in cash form if all appearances are made.
- Bail bond
- A surety posted by a licensed bail bond agent on a defendant's behalf, usually for a non-refundable fee that is a percentage of the full bail amount.
- Bond
- The money or pledge required for pretrial release. Common types include cash bonds, surety bonds, and property bonds.
- Booking
- The administrative process when someone is taken into custody: recording their information, charges, fingerprints, and photograph, and assigning a booking number.
- Booking number
- A unique identifier assigned at booking. It is used to match commissary deposits, mail, and records to the correct person.
C
- Commissary
- The jail store where inmates buy approved items like snacks, hygiene products, and stationery using funds in their account.
- Custody status
- An inmate's current standing in the jail, such as 'Pending' (case not resolved) or 'Sentenced' (convicted and serving time).
D
- Detainer (hold)
- A request from another agency to keep a person in custody, even if they would otherwise be released — for example an immigration or out-of-county hold.
- Disposition
- The outcome of a criminal case or charge, such as dismissed, convicted, acquitted, or pending.
- Docket
- The official court record listing the events, filings, and scheduled hearings in a case. It is separate from the jail roster.
E
- Expungement
- A court-ordered process that seals or erases certain records from public access, where the law allows it.
F
- Felony
- A more serious category of crime, generally punishable by more than a year of incarceration.
M
- Misdemeanor
- A less serious offense, typically punishable by fines or up to a year in jail rather than prison.
N
- No-contact order
- A court order prohibiting a defendant from contacting specific people, often a condition of pretrial release.
O
- Own recognizance (OR/PR)
- Release based on a written promise to appear in court, without posting money. Also called personal recognizance.
P
- Pretrial release
- Release from custody while a case is pending, often with conditions such as monitoring, check-ins, or testing.
- Probable cause
- The reasonable basis required to make an arrest or file charges. A judge may review it shortly after a warrantless arrest.
R
- Remand
- An order returning or keeping a defendant in custody, typically when bail is denied or revoked.
- Roster
- The public list of people currently held in a jail. It reflects physical custody and is not a certified court record.
S
- Sentenced
- A custody status indicating the person has been convicted and is serving a court-imposed sentence.
- Surety
- A third party — often a bail bond agent — who guarantees a defendant's appearance by posting bond on their behalf.
W
- Warrant
- A judge's written authorization for an arrest, search, or other action. A bench warrant is issued when someone misses court.