EvoEnglish

Crime & punishment

B1 Upper-Intermediate • Vocabulary

Key words to talk about crimes, police work, court cases and the punishments people can receive when they break the law.

commit a crime – to do something illegal, for example steal or damage property.
He committed a serious crime when he robbed the bank.
criminal – a person who has committed a crime.
The criminal was finally caught after several months.
suspect – a person the police think may have committed a crime.
The police questioned several suspects after the robbery.
arrest (someone) – to take someone away in order to ask them about a crime.
The police arrested a man near the scene of the crime.
interrogate (someone) – to ask a suspect many detailed questions, usually at a police station.
Detectives interrogated the suspect for several hours.
charge (someone with a crime) – to say officially that someone has broken the law.
He was charged with burglary after the investigation.

evidence – facts, documents or objects that help to show if someone is guilty or not.
There was not enough evidence to convict him.
fingerprint – a mark made by the pattern on the end of a person’s finger.
The thief left fingerprints on the window.
search warrant – an official document that allows the police to search a building or home.
The officers needed a search warrant before entering the house.
alibi – information or proof that shows a person was somewhere else when the crime happened.
Her friend was her alibi; they were at the cinema together.

Strong evidence can support the police or help the defendant show they are innocent.

court – the building and room where legal cases are heard.
The trial took place in a large criminal court.
trial – a formal process in court to decide if someone is guilty or not.
Her trial lasted for three days.
defendant – the person in court who is accused of a crime.
The defendant claimed that he was innocent.
victim – the person who has been hurt or lost something because of a crime.
The victim described what happened that night.
witness – someone who saw the crime or has information about it.
The main witness gave evidence on the second day of the trial.
judge – the person who controls the trial and decides on the sentence.
The judge asked the lawyers to speak more clearly.
jury – a group of people from the public who decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
The jury needed several hours to reach a decision.
lawyer / attorney – a person who represents the defendant or the prosecution in court.
Her lawyer prepared the case very carefully.

verdict – the final decision in a trial, usually made by the jury.
The jury returned a guilty verdict.
guilty – having done something wrong or illegal.
He was found guilty of theft.
not guilty – used when the court decides that the person did not commit the crime.
She was found not guilty and left the court smiling.
acquit / be acquitted – to officially decide in court that someone is not guilty.
The defendant was acquitted because of a strong alibi.
sentence – the punishment given to someone who is found guilty.
The judge gave him a five-year prison sentence.
punishment – what happens to someone because they have broken the law (for example prison or a fine).
Many people argue about what kind of punishment is fair.

Law & justice

Crime, trials & sentencing

Exercises:

If you steal, attack someone or do something illegal, you and can go to prison.

Correct: To commit a crime = to do something illegal.

When the police believe you have committed a crime, they can you and take you to the police station.

Correct: To arrest (someone) = to take them into police custody because they are suspected of a crime.

At the station, detectives will the suspect for hours, asking very detailed questions.

Correct: To interrogate (someone) = to question them intensively, usually at a police station.

After collecting enough evidence, the police may officially and send the case to court.

Correct: To charge (someone with a crime) = to officially accuse them of a specific offence.

The jury decided the defendant was not guilty, so the judge will him and he will walk free.

Correct: To acquit someone = for a court to decide that they are not guilty of the crime.

There was not enough proof, so in the end the suspect was and left the court as an innocent person.

Correct: To be acquitted = to be officially found not guilty in court.

Photos, videos, fingerprints and witness statements are examples of that can help prove someone is guilty or innocent.

Correct: Evidence = information or objects that show whether something is true, especially in a crime.

The police found his on the window, so they knew he had touched it.

Correct: A fingerprint = the mark made by the pattern on your finger, used to identify people.

Before entering the suspect’s house, the officers showed a signed by a judge that allowed them to look for drugs and weapons.

Correct: A search warrant = an official document that gives the police legal permission to search a place.

The suspect’s was that he was at a restaurant with friends when the robbery happened.

Correct: An alibi = proof or a story that you were somewhere else when the crime was committed.