prosecutor - The name of the public officer who is appointed in each county to conduct criminal prosecutions on behalf of the state or people.  

protective custody - In child abuse and neglect cases, the emergency removal of child from his home when the child would be in imminent danger if allowed to remain with the parent(s) or custodian(s).  

protective supervision - A court order following a judgment on the ground of neglect or abuse, whereby the child is permitted to remain in his home, and supervision and assistance to correct the neglect or abuse is provided by the probation department or other agency designated by the court.  

proximate cause - In a civil tort action such as a medical malpractice suit, the plaintiff must show that an act or omission of the defendant was a proximate cause of the plaintiff's injury or loss. Similarly, in a criminal action, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant's action was the direct cause of the crime.  

public defender - Lawyers regularly employed by the government to represent people accused of crimes who cannot afford to hire their own. The term may also be used to refer to a private firm receiving public money to defend indigent criminal defendants.  

punitive damages - Money awarded to an injured person, over and above the measurable value of the injury, in order to punish the person who hurt him.   

- Q - 

quash - To overthrow; vacate; to annul or void a summons, indictment, bindover order or subpoena.  

quid pro quo - What for what; something for something; giving one valuable thing for another.