NCIC: National Crime Information Center. Computerized records used by law enforcement agencies to determine criminal records, arrest or bench warrants, or stolen vehicles, and guns. This is not public access.

Neglect: The omission of proper attention.

Negligence: Failure to exercise a degree of care that a person of ordinary prudence would exercise under the same circumstances. Conduct that falls below the standard established by law for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of harm.

Negligent Hiring: Negligent hiring, a relatively new cause of action in tort law, is hiring someone in someone in some negligent manner. To avoid liability under the new tort it requires that you make a reasonable effort to determine the applicant’s suitability for the job. This reasonable investigation would be proportionate to the position applied for by the applicant. Should an employer fail to do thus and there is an accident causing injury to a third party, the third party can sue for negligent hiring alleging that the employer failed to exercise “due care” in the selection of this employee for a particular job. Employers have a legal duty not to hire people who could pose a threat of harm to others, which can include everything from slight to fatal bodily injury, theft, arson, or property damage. The definition of “reasonable care” depends on the degree of the risk of harm to others. The greater the risk, the higher the standard of care required.

Negotiated Plea: See Plea Bargain.

No Bill or No True Bill: The decision by a grand jury that it will not bring indictment against the accused on the basis of the allegations and evidence presented by the prosecutor.

No Contest: A plea in which the defendant does not contest the charge. This has the same effect as a guilty plea except the conviction cannot be used against the defendant in a civil suit.

No Papered; Washington, DC: No follow up action was made after the initial charge was prepared. No prosecution, no conviction, no further interest. Sometimes a case is “No Papered: as part of a plea bargain, other times when the case is weak or the officer perhaps didn’t complete the necessary paper work.

Nolle Prosequi (Nol Pros): The state’s attorney declares that he or she will not prosecute a case or some charge on a case any further.

Nolli Illigitimi Carborundum: Latin Phrase loosely translated, “hang in there.”

Nolo Contendre / No Contest (Latin vs. English): A statement that the defendant will not contest a charge made by the government. See No Contest.

Nonsuit: A judgment ordered by the court against a plaintiff who fails to proceed to trial.

Not Guilty: A judge or jury finds that the evidence does not provide beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the offense.

NWNI; Alabama: Negotiating worthless non-negotiable instrument.