Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: MAINPRISE
Definition: Mainprise is an old legal term that refers to the act of releasing a prisoner from jail on the promise of a surety, or someone who agrees to take responsibility for the prisoner's appearance in court on a specific date and time. It can also refer to a writ, or legal order, that instructs a sheriff to release a prisoner after taking security for their appearance. The word comes from Old French and means "hand-taking."
Definition: Mainprise (mayn-prIz) is a legal term that refers to the delivery of a prisoner to a mainpernor, who is responsible for ensuring the prisoner's appearance in court on a specified date and time. It can also refer to a writ ordering the sheriff to release a prisoner after taking security for the prisoner's appearance.
Examples:
These examples illustrate how mainprise was used in the past to ensure that prisoners appeared in court. It was a way to ensure that justice was served and that the accused had a fair trial. Today, mainprise is not commonly used, as there are other methods of ensuring that prisoners appear in court, such as bail.