conviction
    n 1: an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or
         evidence [syn: conviction, strong belief, article of
         faith]
    2: (criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case
       and the punishment that is imposed; "the conviction came as
       no surprise" [syn: conviction, judgment of conviction,
       condemnation, sentence] [ant: acquittal]

Conviction \Con*vic"tion\ (k[o^]n*v[i^]k"sh[u^]n), n. [L.
   convictio proof: cf. F. conviction conviction (in sense 3 &
   4). See Convict, Convince.]
   1. The act of convicting; the act of proving, finding, or
      adjudging, guilty of an offense.
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            The greater certainty of conviction and the greater
            certainty of punishment.              --Hallam.
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   2. (Law) A judgment of condemnation entered by a court having
      jurisdiction; the act or process of finding guilty, or the
      state of being found guilty of any crime by a legal
      tribunal.
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            Conviction may accrue two ways.       --Blackstone.
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   3. The act of convincing of error, or of compelling the
      admission of a truth; confutation.
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            For all his tedious talk is but vain boast,
            Or subtle shifts conviction to evade. --Milton.
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   4. The state of being convinced or convicted; strong
      persuasion or belief; especially, the state of being
      convicted of sin, or by one's conscience.
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            To call good evil, and evil good, against the
            conviction of their own consciences.  --Swift.
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            And did you presently fall under the power of this
            conviction?                           --Bunyan.

   Syn: Conviction; persuasion.

   Usage: Conviction respects soley matters of belief or faith;
          persuasion respects matters of belief or practice.
          Conviction respects our most important duties;
          persuasion is frequently applied to matters of
          indifference. --Crabb. -- Conviction is the result of
          the [operation of the] understanding; persuasion, of
          the will. Conviction is a necessity of the mind,
          persuasion an acquiescence of the inclination. --C. J.
          Smith. -- Persuasion often induces men to act in
          opposition to their conviction of duty.
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CONVICTION, practice. A condemnation. In its most extensive sense this word 
signifies the giving judgment against a defendant, whether criminal or 
civil. In a more limited sense, it means, the judgment given against the 
criminal. And in its most restricted sense it is a record of the summary 
proceedings upon any penal statute before one or more justices of the peace, 
or other persons duly authorized, in a case where the offender has been 
convicted and sentenced: this last is usually termed a summary conviction. 
     2. As summary. convictions have been introduced in derogation of the 
common law, and operate to the exclusion of trial by jury, the courts have 
required that the strict letter of the statute should be observed 1 Burr. 
Rep. 613 and that the magistrates should have been guided by rules similar 
to those adopted by the common law, in criminal prosecution, and founded in 
natural justice; unless when the statute dispenses with the form of stating 
them. 
     3. The general rules in relation to convictions are, first, it must be 
under the hand and seal of the magistrate before whom it is taken; secondly, 
it must be in the present tense, but this, perhaps, ought to extend only to 
the judgment; thirdly, it must be certain; fourthly, although it is well to 
lay the offence to be contra pacem, this is not indispensable; fifthly, a 
conviction cannot be good in part and bad in part. 
     4. A conviction usually consists of six parts; first, the information; 
which should contain, 1. The day when it was taken. 2. The place where it 
was taken.  3. The name of the informer. 4. The name and style of the 
justice or justices to whom it was given. 5. The name of the offender. 6. 
The time of committing the offence. 7. The place where the offence was 
committed. 8. An exact description of the offence. 
     5. Secondly, the summons.
     6. Thirdly, the appearance or non-appearance of the defendant. 
     7. Fourthly, his defence or confessions.
     8. Fifthly, the evidence. Dougl. 469; 2 Burr. 1163; 4 Burr. 2064.
     9. Sixthly, the judgment or adjudication, which should state, 1. That 
the defendant is convicted. 2. The forfeiture or penalty. Vide Bosc. on 
Conviction; Espinasse on Penal Actions; 4 Dall. 266; 3 Yeates, 475; 1 
Yeates, 471. As to the effect of a conviction as evidence in a civil case, 
see 1 Phil. Ev. 259; 8 Bouv. Inst. 3183.