Glossary of Terms (N - Z)

NASCAR
National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing
 
Non-contact visitations
Prison visitations in which visitor and inmates are denied any physical contact, and are separated either by a glass partition or mesh screens.
 
Nonresidential programs
Programs that, as an alternative to incarceration, provide intensive services to persons who live at home and report to programs on a daily basis.
 
Offender
An individual convicted or adjudicated of a criminal offence.
 
Parole
The status of an offender conditionally released from prison prior to expiration of his/her sentence on the condition of supervision by a parole officer. 
 
Pat down search
To search a person for something by running hands over the clothing and through the pockets.
 
Plea Bargain
An agreement entered into by a prosecutor and a defendant whereby concessions generally are made (such as reduced charges or sentences) in return for a guilty plea.
 
Prerelease programs
Programs designed to prepare inmates for community life and provide assistance with related issues.
 
Prison
A confinement facility for offenders sentenced to more than one year, administered by the state, federal government, or a private company.
 
Prisoner
A person in physical custody in a local, state, or federal confinement facility.
 
Probation
A court-ordered conditional freedom of an adjudicated person, through which the convicted adult offender is placed under the supervision and care of a probation field staff member, as long as the offender meets certain standards of conduct.
 
Public defender
An attorney employed by a government agency or subunit or by a private organization under contract to a unit of government, for the purpose of providing legal services to defendants unable to hire private counsel.
 
Random testing (for drugs and alcohol)
Testing of urine and blood of randomly selected prisoners for presence of drugs and alcohol in order to discourage use and identify those that may benefit from treatment programs.
 
Recidivism
The repeated occurrence of any of the following events in the overall criminal justice process, for an individual: commission of a crime, arrest, charge, conviction, sentencing, incarceration.
 
Recidivist
A person who has been convicted on one or more crimes and who is alleged to have subsequently committed another crime or series of crimes.
 
Rehabilitation
An approach to offender management in which an attempt is made to change the offender’s criminal behavior through appropriate treatment.
 
Reintegration
A model of treatment whose goal is to return the offender to the community as a productive citizen who can handle problems using community resources. 
 
Relapse prevention programs
Programs which seek to help the offender remain drug or alcohol free by teaching them the process of recovery and relapse and how to recognize and manage relapse warning signs.
 
Restitution
A court requirement that an offender pay money or provide services to the victim of the crime or provide services to the community.
 
Sentence
The penalty imposed by a court upon a convicted person.
 
Strip search
An examination of an inmate’s/resident’s/visitor’s naked body for weapons or contraband. 
 
 Treatment
A program or therapy provided to an offender for diagnosed substance abuse or physical or mental disorder by an agency or individual licensed or certified to perform such services.
 
Twelve-step programs
Programs which promote a sober and drug-free lifestyle by providing a fellowship of individuals who share their experiences to recover from a common addiction. These programs are based on voluntary participation and are nationally available. 
 
Victim
A person who has suffered death, physical or mental suffering, or loss of property as the result of an actual or attempted criminal offense committed by another person.
 
Victim/offender mediation program
Victim offender mediation and reconciliation program involves a face-to-face meeting, in the presence of a trained mediator, between an individual who has been victimized and the perpetrator. Through this process crime victims are given an opportunity to have their questions answered and restitution and emotional needs met. The person responsible for the crime is held accountable for his/her actions and given an opportunity to make things right.
 
Work release
A formal arrangement sanctioned by law whereby an inmate is released into the community to maintain approved and regular employment.

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