Bilingual Glossary (NYC Jusice)
Bilingual Glossary (NYC Jusice)
A Spanish Glossary
for New York City
The Vera Institute of Justice has prepared this legal glossary in collaboration with
experienced translators, interpreters, and bilingual staff. While extensive revision and
review was undertaken to ensure the accuracy of all terms in this glossary, the Vera
Institute does not guarantee the accuracy of the translations. It is not intended to provide
legal advice and should be used for general reference purposes only. If you have a
specific legal concern or question, you should consult legal counsel. For more
information, please contact the Vera Institute’s Communications Department at (212)
334-1300.
The Vera Institute of Justice developed this translated glossary of criminal and juvenile
justice terms to serve as a resource for interpreters, translators, and bilingual staff at
New York City’s justice and public safety agencies, courts, and nonprofit organizations.
We hope the use of this glossary will improve Spanish-speaking New Yorkers’ access to
justice, and will assist interpreters, translators, and bilingual staff in providing vital
communication—both written and oral—to limited English proficient residents of our city.
The glossary includes 640 legal and criminal justice words and phrases used in New
York courts, justice agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The terms are organized both
alphabetically and in the following categories—Agency Names, Court Proceedings &
Sentencing, Detention & Corrections, Drugs & Weapons, Juvenile Justice, Law
Enforcement & Investigations, Penal Law & Offenses, and Probation & Parole. Existing
glossaries from New York agencies and other state justice agencies were used as a
starting point and ongoing reference for the project.
While we took great care to be inclusive and thorough in developing this glossary, we
recognize that there may be errors, omissions, or additional translations for the terms in
the glossary. We welcome any suggestions you have to improve the glossary. Please
contact the Vera Institute’s Communications Department at (212) 334-1300 to share
your comments.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This project was made possible with generous support and funding from the New York
City Council and the Council’s Committee on Fire & Criminal Justice Services and the
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
We would like to thank the following individuals for their advice and guidance throughout
the course of this project:
We would like to thank the four individuals who worked collaboratively on the Spanish
translation of this glossary:
Nora Davila
Ms. Davila manages the Spanish Interpreter Unit at the Legal Aid Society in New York
City.
Manuela Hernandez
Ms. Hernandez is a bilingual attorney with the Legal Aid Society in New York City.
Alberto McDowell
Mr. McDowell is a certified Spanish court interpreter with the New York State Office of
Court Administration.
Rhadames Ulloa
Mr. Ulloa is a bilingual attorney with Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT), a
nonprofit that provides legal advice and services to individuals in NYC family courts.
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Adjudication of Court Proceedings &
declaración de delincuencia
delinquency Sentencing; Juvenile Justice
Court Proceedings &
Adjustment cambio; ajuste; modificación
Sentencing; Probation & Parole
Court Proceedings &
Administer an oath juramentar; tomarle juramento
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Admissibility admitirse; permitirse; admisible
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Admissible evidence prueba admisible
Sentencing
Admission [into custody
admisión; ingreso Detention & Corrections
or incarceration]
Court Proceedings &
Admission [statement
confesión Sentencing; Law Enforcement &
or confession]
Investigations
Court Proceedings &
Admit into evidence aceptar como prueba
Sentencing
Aggravated assault agresión física con agravante Penal Law & Offenses
Aggravated
abuso sexual con agravante Penal Law & Offenses
sexual abuse
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Aggravating Court Proceedings &
circunstancias agravantes
circumstances Sentencing
Armed felony delito mayor a mano armada Penal Law & Offenses
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Law Enforcement &
Arrest warrant orden de arresto; orden de captura
Investigations
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Law Enforcement &
Badge (n.) placa
Investigations
Detention & Corrections; Court
Bail (n.) fianza
Proceedings & Sentencing
Detention & Corrections; Court
Bail bond bono de fianza
Proceedings & Sentencing
Detention & Corrections; Court
Bail out (v.) sacar en libertad bajo fianza
Proceedings & Sentencing
Detention & Corrections; Court
Bail revocation revocar la fianza
Proceedings & Sentencing
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Court Proceedings &
Calendar calendario judicial
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Calendar part sala; sala calendario
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Capacity to consent capacidad
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Capital punishment pena de muerte
Sentencing
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Court Proceedings &
Circumstantial evidence prueba circunstancial
Sentencing
Citation Court Proceedings &
citación; citatorio
[legal reference] Sentencing
Law Enforcement &
Citation [summons] citación
Investigations
defensor gratuito de la comisión de Court Proceedings &
CJA panel attorney
justicia Sentencing
Clear and Court Proceedings &
prueba
convincing evidence Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Clear and
riesgo evidente e inminente Sentencing; Law Enforcement &
present danger
Investigations
base de cocaína; pasta básica de
Cocaine base Drugs & Weapons
cocaína; cocaína base
Commercial bribe
aceptar un soborno comercial Penal Law & Offenses
receiving
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Court Proceedings &
Competent evidence prueba admisible
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Competent to stand trial capacidad para ser juzgado
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Complainant querellante; demandante Sentencing; Law Enforcement &
Investigations
Law Enforcement &
Complaint querella; demanda; queja Investigations; Court
Proceedings & Sentencing
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desacato o desobediencia contra un Court Proceedings &
Contempt of court
tribunal Sentencing
Law Enforcement &
Investigations; Court
Contraband contrabando Proceedings & Sentencing;
Detention & Corrections; Drugs
& Weapons
Court Proceedings &
Contract (n.) contrato
Sentencing
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Court Proceedings &
Court order orden judicial; orden de la corte; auto
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Court part sala; corte
Sentencing
cocaína cocinada; "crac;" cocinado;
Crack (n.) Drugs & Weapons
jabón; piedritas de perico
Criminal mischief
daños contra la propiedad Penal Law & Offenses
and related offenses
Criminal possession posesión ilícita; tenencia ilícita Penal Law & Offenses
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Criminal sale
venta ilícita de marihuana Penal Law & Offenses
of marijuana
Criminal simulation simulación criminal; simulación penal Penal Law & Offenses
Criminal use
uso criminal de un arma de fuego Penal Law & Offenses
of a firearm
Criminal usury usura criminal; usura penal Penal Law & Offenses
Criminally negligent
homicidio con negligencia criminal Penal Law & Offenses
homicide
Court Proceedings &
Cross examination contrainterrogatorio
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Culpability culpabilidad
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Cumulative sentence condena acumulativa
Sentencing
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Court Proceedings &
Discharge liberar Sentencing; Detention &
Corrections; Probation & Parole
Discovery Court Proceedings &
obtención de información y pruebas
[or disclosure] Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Dismiss a case desestimar un caso
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Dismissal anulación de los cargos
Sentencing
desestimación o anulación con Court Proceedings &
Dismissal with prejudice
prejuicio Sentencing
Dismissal without Court Proceedings &
desestimación o anulación sin prejuicio
prejudice Sentencing
desorden público; escándalo público;
Disorderly conduct Penal Law & Offenses
desobediencia publica
Court Proceedings &
Disposition disposición; fallo; resolución; sentencia
Sentencing; Juvenile Justice
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Early Case Assessment Departamento de Asesoramiento Court Proceedings &
Bureau (ECAB) Inicial de Casos (ECAB) Sentencing
escuchar conversaciones Penal Law & Offenses; Law
Eavesdropping
indebidamente Enforcement & Investigations
Endangering the
poner en peligro el bienestar de un… Penal Law & Offenses
Welfare of…
Enter a plea to Court Proceedings &
declararse culpable o no culpable
the indictment Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Entertain a motion considerar la solicitud/petición
Sentencing
Law Enforcement &
Entrapment tender una trampa Investigations; Penal Law &
Offenses
Court Proceedings &
Entry of judgment inscripción de la sentencia
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Equal protection of laws igualdad de protección ante la ley
Sentencing
Probation & Parole; Detention &
Escape (n.) escape; fuga Corrections; Law Enforcement &
Investigations
Probation & Parole; Detention &
Escape (v.) fugarse; huir; escapar Corrections; Law Enforcement &
Investigations
Court Proceedings &
Evidence evidencia; prueba admisible
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Ex parte "ex parte"
Sentencing
Law Enforcement &
Excessive force fuerza excesiva Investigations; Penal Law &
Offenses
Court Proceedings &
Exclusionary rule regla de exclusión
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Exhibit (n.) prueba real admitida
Sentencing
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Exploration of investigaciones para la colocación
Juvenile Justice
placement (EOP) (EOP)
Court Proceedings &
Expunge eliminar
Sentencing
Extreme emotional Court Proceedings &
pertubación emocional extrema
disturbance Sentencing
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fabricar pruebas; inventar pruebas; Penal Law & Offenses; Court
Fabricate evidence
falsificar pruebas Proceedings & Sentencing
juicio (en corte de familia); audiencia de
Fact-finding hearing Juvenile Justice
determinación de los hechos
Failing to respond to Penal Law & Offenses; Court
incomparecencia a una cita
an appearance ticket Proceedings & Sentencing
incomparecencia; no comparecencia Penal Law & Offenses; Court
Failure to appear (FTA)
(FTA) Proceedings & Sentencing
Penal Law & Offenses; Law
False imprisonment privación ilegítima de la libertad Enforcement & Investigations;
Detention & Corrections
Falsely reporting
reportar un incidente falso Penal Law & Offenses
an incident
Family Court
citación de comparecencia a corte de
Appearance Ticket Juvenile Justice
familia (FCAT)
(FCAT)
Female genital
mutilación de los genitales femeninos Penal Law & Offenses
mutilation
First degree murder homicidio en primer grado Penal Law & Offenses
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Law Enforcement &
Force (n.) fuerza Investigations; Detention &
Corrections
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Gang assault agresión de pandilla; ganga (slang) Penal Law & Offenses
Graffiti (v.) hacer grafiti; pintar grafiti Penal Law & Offenses
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habeas corpus; mandato/orden Court Proceedings &
Habeas corpus [writ of]
judicial de habeas corpus Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Habitual offender ofensor habitual
Sentencing
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Court Proceedings &
Infraction infracción;violación; contravención
Sentencing; Probation & Parole
Court Proceedings &
Initial appearance comparecencia inicial; vista inicial
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Insanity defense defensa por aflicción mental;
Sentencing
Issuing a bad check pagar con cheques sin fondos Penal Law & Offenses
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TERM SPANISH TRANSLATION CATEGORY
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Lack of consent
abuso sexual sin consentimiento Penal Law & Offenses
[on a sex offense]
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Court Proceedings &
Magistrate juez
Sentencing
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TERM SPANISH TRANSLATION CATEGORY
descuido; conducta descuidada;
Neglect (n.) Penal Law & Offenses
conducta negligente
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TERM SPANISH TRANSLATION CATEGORY
Court Proceedings &
Notice of appeal notificación de apelación
Sentencing
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TERM SPANISH TRANSLATION CATEGORY
Court Proceedings &
Oath juramento
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Objection objeción; protesta
Sentencing
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Court Proceedings &
Pardon indulto
Sentencing
Patronizing a prostitute usar servicios de una prostituta Penal Law & Offenses
Persistent
ofensor persistente en delitos mayores Penal Law & Offenses
felony offender
Persistent sexual abuse abuso sexual persistente Penal Law & Offenses
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Detention & Corrections; Court
Pretrial release libertad provisional
Proceedings & Sentencing
pruebas suficientes para satisfacer los Court Proceedings &
Prima facie case
elementos del cargo Sentencing
Penal Law & Offenses; Court
Prior conviction condena previa
Proceedings & Sentencing
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extorsión sistemática; extorsión
Racketeering Penal Law & Offenses
organizada
Law Enforcement &
Rap sheet antecedentes penales Investigations; Court
Proceedings & Sentencing
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tratamiento residencial; tratamiento con Probation & Parole; Court
Residential treatment
alojamiento Proceedings & Sentencing
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Second degree murder homicidio en el segundo grado Penal Law & Offenses
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TERM SPANISH TRANSLATION CATEGORY
Law Enforcement &
Sheriff aguacil
Investigations
Speedball [mix of
mezcla de cocaína y heroína Drugs & Weapons
cocaine & heroin]
Court Proceedings &
Speedy trial Jucio sin demora; juicio rápido
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Split sentence pena mixta
Sentencing
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citación formal de comparecencia; Court Proceedings &
Subpoena
orden formal de comparecencia Sentencing
Law Enforcement &
Summons citación; orden de comparecencia Investigations; Court
Proceedings & Sentencing
Suppression eliminación de prueba; eliminación de Court Proceedings &
of evidence evidencia Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Supreme Court la corte suprema
Sentencing
Law Enforcement &
Surveillance vigilancia
Investigations
Law Enforcement &
Suspect (n.) sospechoso
Investigations
Court Proceedings &
Suspended judgment fallo suspendido
Sentencing
Court Proceedings &
Suspended sentence pena suspendida
Sentencing
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Law Enforcement &
Taking into custody poner bajo custodia Investigations; Detention &
Corrections
Tampering with a alterar fraudulentamente bienes de
Penal Law & Offenses
consumer product consumo
Trademark
falsificación de marcas registradas Penal Law & Offenses
counterfeiting
tratamiento [plus una explicación del
Treatment Drugs & Weapons
tipo de tratamiento]
entrada o permanencia ilícita [en
Trespass (v.) Penal Law & Offenses
propiedad ajena]
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Unauthorized use
uso de vehículo sin autorización Penal Law & Offenses
of a vehicle
Unauthorized use of
uso no autorizado de tarjetas [plus una
credit card, debit card Penal Law & Offenses
explicación del tipo de tarjetas usadas]
or public benefit card
Unconditional Probation & Parole; Court
libertad incondicional
release/discharge Proceedings & Sentencing
United States Attorney's
fiscalía federal (USAO) Agency Names
Office (USAO)
Unlawful assembly reunión ilícita; reunión ilegal Penal Law & Offenses
Unlawful possession tenencia ilícita; posesión ilícita Penal Law & Offenses
Unlawful possession
tenencia ilícita de un arma Penal Law & Offenses
of a weapon
Law Enforcement &
Unmarked police car carro policíaco no marcado
Investigations
registro e incautación o detención
Unreasonable search
irrazonable; registro e incautación o Penal Law & Offenses
and seizure
detención no razonable
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Violent offense ofensa violenta; delito violento Penal Law & Offenses
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TERM SPANISH TRANSLATION CATEGORY
Court Proceedings &
Waive renunciar
Sentencing
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TERM SPANISH TRANSLATION CATEGORY
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REFERENCES
General
Black’s Law Dictionary: Abridged Fifth Edition. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company,
1983.
Criminal Law Handbook of New York. Binghamton, NY: Gould Publications, 2003.
New York Family Law Handbook. Binghamton, NY: Gould Publications, 2006.
Spanish
Cabanellas de las Cuevas, G. & Hoague, E. (Eds.) Lexis English Spanish Legal
Dictionary (Vols. 1-2). United States: Butterworth Legal Publishers, 1991.
Carvajal, C. & Horwood, J. (Eds.) The Oxford Spanish Dictionary: New International
Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
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