Bad Check: A check that is dishonored on presentation because of insufficient funds (NSF), unavailable funds, or a closed bank account. Issuing a bad check is a form of larceny (theft).

Bad Debt: A debt that is not collectible and is therefore worthless to the creditor.

Bail: An amount of money, set by a judge at an initial appearance to ensure the return of an accused at subsequent proceedings.

Bail Forfeiture: Defendant allowed to forfeit bail and is found guilty of the offense charged.

Bankruptcy: A statutory procedure by which a debtor obtains financial relief and undergoes a judicially supervised reorganization or liquidation of the debtor’s assets for the benefit of creditors.

Battery: The unlawful touching of or use of force on another person willfully or in anger. Battery may be considered either a tort, giving rise to civil liability for damages to the victim or a crime. Compare to assault.

Bench Trial: Trial by judge, without a jury.

Bench Warrant: A court order for the arrest of a person; commonly issued to compel a person’s attendance before the court to answer a charge of contempt or if a witness or defendant fails to attend after a subpoena has been duly served.

Blackmail: An illegal demand for money or property under threat of harm or exposure of undesirable acts.

Bond: A certificate of obligation, either unsecured or secured with collateral, to pay a specified amount of money within a specified period of time.

Bond Forfeiture: The permanent loss of property (money in this case) for failure to comply with the law. Interest is accrued. This is not a conviction, nor a finding of innocence.

Bookmaking: An operation with the purpose of placing, registering, paying off or collecting debts for bets.

Bound Over: Court finds probable cause exists to believe the accused committed the offense charged and binds the charge over to superior court.

Breach of Contract: A wrongful nonperformance of any contractual duty of immediate performance; failing to perform acts promised, by hindering or preventing such performance or by repudiating the duty to perform.

Breach: Failure to perform some contracted-for or agree- upon act, or to comply with a legal duty owed to another or society.

Breaking and Entering: Two of the elements necessary to constitute a burglary, consisting of the use of physical force, however slight, to remove an obstruction to an entrance. For example, pushing open a door that is ajar, followed by unauthorized entry into a building, is sufficient to constitute the breaking and entering elements of a burglary.

Bribery: The voluntary giving of something of value to influence the performance of an official duty.