IELTS Crime Vocabulary

A law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament.

There needs to be changes to crime-related legislation.

To make someone less enthusiastic about doing something by threatening bad results if they do it.

Tougher prison sentences may be a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

Someone who is guilty of a crime.

Prison should not be used for first-time offenders.

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

Those responsible for serious crimes must be punished.

When you stop something from happening or stop someone from doing something.

The government should focus on the prevention of crime rather than introducing harsher prison sentences.

To do something illegal or something that is considered wrong.

People who commit serious crimes should be given lengthy (long) prison sentences.

A person who commits a crime.

Criminals who commit violent crimes should not be given probation.

A period of time when a criminal must behave well and not commit any more crimes in order to avoid being sent to prison.

Probation is a good way to reduce prison overcrowding, but it must only be used for those who have committed minor crimes.

To return someone or something to a good or healthy condition, state or way of living.

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.

Having done something wrong or committed a crime.

If jurors (the members of a jury) find a defendant guilty, then that person must be punished.

A group of people chosen to decide in a court of law if someone is guilty of a crime or not.

To ensure fairness in a criminal trial, there must be a jury.

To decide officially in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime.

He has been convicted of arson (starting a fire intentionally to damage something) two times now.

Being made to pay money for breaking the law.

Motorists should be given a fine if they are caught speeding.

Being put in prison.

Murderers are usually given life imprisonment.

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.

Community service is a good alternative to prison for minor offences.

Fairness in the way people are dealt with.

Those who commit assaults must be imprisoned because the victims want justice.

Someone who has suffered because of the actions of someone else.

The victims of crime often need help and support to recover from their bad experience.