CRIMINAL REFERRAL Meaning and
Definition
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A criminal referral refers to a process in which a law enforcement agency or other official body formally notifies a prosecuting authority of possible criminal wrongdoing that has been discovered during the course of an investigation. It is a formal recommendation or request to initiate legal proceedings against an individual or entity suspected of committing a crime. Typically, criminal referrals are made by law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, or congressional committees, and are submitted to agencies such as the Department of Justice or a local district attorney's office.
The purpose of a criminal referral is to bring attention to potential criminal conduct that may warrant further investigation and prosecution. It serves as a means to transfer responsibility for determining whether charges will be brought or not, from the referring agency to the prosecuting authority. The referral includes relevant information gathered during the investigation, such as evidence, witness statements, and any other pertinent documentation.
Upon receiving a criminal referral, the prosecuting authority evaluates the evidence provided to determine its sufficiency to initiate criminal charges. A decision to accept or pursue the referral is based on various factors, including the strength and credibility of the evidence, legal requirements, and the nature of the alleged offense. If the referral is accepted, the prosecuting authority will then undertake further investigation or present the case to a grand jury for potential indictment.
In summary, a criminal referral is a formal communication that alerts the appropriate prosecuting authority to potential criminal activity, allowing them to assess whether there is enough evidence to proceed with criminal charges.
Common Misspellings for CRIMINAL REFERRAL
- xriminal referral
- vriminal referral
- friminal referral
- driminal referral
- ceiminal referral
- cdiminal referral
- cfiminal referral
- ctiminal referral
- c5iminal referral
- c4iminal referral
- cruminal referral
- crjminal referral
- crkminal referral
- crominal referral
- cr9minal referral
- cr8minal referral
- crininal referral
- crikinal referral
- crijinal referral
- crimunal referral
Etymology of CRIMINAL REFERRAL
The etymology of the word "criminal referral" can be understood by examining the origins of its constituent parts:
1. Criminal: The term "criminal" originated from the Latin word "crīminālis", which means "pertaining to crime". It is derived from the Latin word "crīmen", meaning "crime" or "accusation". "Crīmen" itself has roots in the Latin verb "cernere", which means "to decide" or "to determine".
2. Referral: The term "referral" comes from the Latin word "referrere". The word "referre" is a combination of "re", meaning "back" or "again", and "ferre", which means "to bear" or "carry". "Referre" thus signifies "to carry back" or "to bring back".
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