Legal Definitions - baliva

Definition: Baliva is another term for bailiwick, which refers to the office, jurisdiction, or district of a bailiff. It is the area where a bailiff has the authority to enforce the law.

For example, a police officer's bailiwick is typically the city where they work. A sheriff's bailiwick is usually the county they serve, and a state officer's bailiwick is the entire state.

This term comes from the Old English word "wick," which meant village. Each village had a bailiff who was responsible for maintaining peace and order within their territory. Over time, the term "bailiwick" came to refer to the specific area where a peace officer had jurisdiction.