Crime Vocabulary Flashcards
Legislation
Definition: A law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament.
Example:
There needs to be changes to crime-related legislation
Deter
Definition: To make someone less enthusiastic about doing something by threatening bad results if they do it.
Examples:
Tougher prison sentences may be a deterrent to other would-be offenders.
Offender
Definition: Someone who is guilty of a crime
Example:
Prison should not be used for first-time offenders.
Punish
Definition: To cause someone who has done something wrong or committed a crime to suffer, by hurting them, forcing them to pay money, sending them to prison, etc.
Example:
Those responsible for serious crimes must be punished.
Prevention
Definition: When you stop something from happening or stop someone from doing something.
Example:
The government should focus on the prevention of crime rather than introducing harsher prison sentences.
Commit
Definition: To do something illegal or something that is considered wrong.
Examples:
People who commit serious crimes should be given lengthy (long) prison sentences.
Criminal
Definition: A person who commits a crime.
Example:
Criminals who commit violent crimes should not be given probation.
Probation
Definition: A period of time when a criminal must behave well and not commit any more crimes in order to avoid being sent to prison.
Example:
Probation is a good way to reduce prison overcrowding, but it must only be used for those who have committed minor crimes.
Rehabilitate
Definition: To return someone or something to a good or healthy condition, state or way of living.
Example:
It is important to rehabilitate criminals while they are in prison otherwise they may re-offend (commit a crime again) when they are released from prison.
Guilt
Definition: Having done something wrong or committed a crime.
Example: If jurors (the members of a jury) find a defendant guilty, then that person must be punished.
Jury
Definition: A group of people chosen to decide in a court of. Law if someone is guilty of a crime or not.
Example:
To ensure fairness in a criminal trial, there must be a jury.
Convict
Definition: To decide officially in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime.
Example:
He has been convicted of arson (starting a fire intentionally to damage something) two times now.
Fine
Definition: Being made to pay money for breaking the law.
Example:
Motorists should be given a fine if they are caught speeding.
Imprisonment
Definition: Being put in prison.
Example:
Murderers are usually given life imprisonment.
Community Service
Definition: Work that people do to help other people without payment, and which young criminals whose crime was not serious enough for them to be put in prison are sometimes ordered to do.
Example:
Community Service is a good alternative to prison for minor offenses.
