Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
prevalent
prevaricate
prevenient
prevent
prevent defense
preventative
prevention
preventive
preventive detention
preverbal
preview
preview light
previous
previous question
previously
previse
prevision
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "preventi... detention" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

preventive detention

pre·ven·tive de·ten·tion


noun 
Definition:
 
1.  (plural pre·ven·tive de·ten·tions) pretrial imprisonment: the pretrial jailing without bail of somebody accused of a crime who is thought likely to attempt to flee, commit additional crimes, or intimidate witnesses or prosecutors, or an instance of such jailing

2. U.S. institutionalization of disturbed patients: institutionalization of a psychologically disturbed patient in order to prevent him or her from committing a crime

Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Upgrade your Encarta experience
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft