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| attorney
| n. 1 a person appointed to act for or represent another 2US lawyer
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| barristerUK
| n. a lawyer who pleads before a superior court
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| brief
| n. 1UK instructions to a barrister - also v. 2US written statement of facts for a court
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| case
| n. statement of the facts in a trial, esp. the argument of one side
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| contract
| n. a formal agreement, usually in writing, between two or more parties
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| court of law
| n. the place where law cases are hear and decided; court - courtroom n.
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| evidence
| n. information presented to a court to prove or support a point in question
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| guilty
| adj. responsible for wrong; culpable - guilt n. not guilty adj.
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| judge
| n. public official with authority to hear and decide cases in a court of law - also v.
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| jury
| n. a group of people chosen to hear the evidence of a case and give a decision
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| lawsuit
| n. a trial at court between two private parties
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| lawyer
| n. a person trained in law and who advises or represents others
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| plead
| v. 1 to defend a law case 2 to declare oneself to be guilty or not guilty - plea n.
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| sentence
| n. 1 decision of a court, esp. as to the punishment 2 the punishment - also v.
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| solicitor
| n. 1UK lawyer advising clients & briefing barristers 2US law officer for a city etc
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| sue
| v. to start legal action against someone in a court of law - lawsuit n.
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| sum up
| v. to summarise & review the evidence of a case [said of a judge] - summing up n.
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| trial
| n. a formal examination of a case in a court of law - to try v.
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| verdict
| n. the formal decision or finding of a judge or jury
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| without prejudice
| without detriment or damage to a legal right or claim
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The words below are the most important words used when talking about crime.
| Vocabulary part of speech
| Meaning
| Example sentence
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| arrest verb
| take into police control
| My partner arrested the man who set fire to the building.
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| assailant noun
| person who assaults or attacks
| Did you see the assailant run away?
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| at large (on the loose) preposition + adjective
| not caught, running free
| I'm afraid that the man who robbed the bank is still at large.
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| armed and dangerous adjective
| is carrying a weapon and has a violent background
| Do not approach the thief if you see him. He is considered armed and dangerous.
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| back-up noun
| police that are called in to support or help
| We're calling for back up now that we know she has a gun.
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| bail noun
| large amount of money that someone pays as a promise to appear in cour
| Your husband's bail is posted at 20, 000 dollars.
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| baton (night stick) noun
| heavy stick that police use for controlling crowds or defending themselves
| No, we don't carry guns. We only have batons.
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| booksomeoneverb
| register someone as a criminal
| We're taking your brother down to the station to book him.
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| break into verb
| enter a residence, car, or business illegally
| Do you have any idea who would have broken into your car?
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| burglar noun
| a person who breaks into a home or business and steals items
| We think the burglar got in through your chimney.
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| cell noun
| individual room in a jail/prison
| We'll have to keep you in a cell until someone comes to pay your bail.
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| convict noun
| a person who is doing (or supposed to be doing) jailtime
| Please be aware that there is a convict on the loose.
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| cop/copper noun
| police officer (common slang)
| Did somebody here call the cops?
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| criminal record noun
| a file that lists all of the crimes a person has committed
| We don't allow anyone with a criminal record into our country.
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| crime scene noun
| the place where a crime happened
| Please stay outside the yellow tape. This is a crime scene.
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| cruiser (squad car) noun
| police car
| Please step out of your vehicle and get into the police cruiser.
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| (in) custody noun
| under police control
| You will be happy to know that we have taken the kidnapper into custody.
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| DUI/DWI
| (Driving Under the Influence/Driving while Intoxicated). Driving after drinking too much alcohol
| Your record says that you have two previous DUIs.
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| detective noun
| police officer responsible for solving crime
| The detective is going to ask you a few questions about the man's appearance.
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| do time verb + noun
| receive punishment for a crime by spending time in jail
| You won't be required to do any time but you will have to pay a fine.
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| domestic dispute adjective + noun
| argument/trouble in the home(often leads to violence)
| We've had a number of calls reporting a domestic dispute in your hotel room.
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| escape verb
| get away from a holding place
| If you try to escape we will have to restrain you with handcuffs.
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| felony noun
| a major crime (e.g. murder)
| Murder is considered a felony and is punishable by life in prison.
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| fine noun
| money that a person pays for breaking a law
| You can get charged a large fine for speeding in a school zone.
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| fingerprints noun
| marks left by fingers that identify a person
| We're going to have to check your personal belongings for fingerprints.
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| firearms noun
| weapons that shoot
| It is illegal to carry unregistered firearms such as rifles and pistols.
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| gang noun
| a group of people often associated with crime and drugs
| Stay away from this area at night as there is a lot of gang activity.
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| guilty adjective
| responsible for a crime, deserving of punishment
| You will be considered innocent until you are proven guilty.
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| handcuffs noun
| metal rings that attach to wrists to keep criminals (or the accused)from escaping
| We put your boyfriend in handcuffs, because we saw him climbing through your window and thought he was an intruder.
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| innocent adjective
| not responsible for the crime
| We'll believe you are innocent when you show us your receipt for the items in the bag.
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| intruder noun
| a person who enters a home or business illegally
| Someone called to report an intruder on the third floor.
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| jail (prison) noun
| a place where criminals are confined
| The guards will be patrolling the prison all day long.
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| misdemeanor noun
| a minor crime (punishment is usually a fine or less than one year in jail)
| Stealing a road sign is considered a misdemeanor,but is punishable by a large fine.
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| noise complaint noun
| a call to the police to complain of disturbing noise (usually music or a party)
| Two of your neighbours have made a noise complaint tonight.
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| partner noun
| another officer that a policeman drives and works with
| I'm going to get you to tell your story to my partner.
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| patrol (on patrol) verb
| observe and protect an area
| We always patrol the downtown core on the weekends.
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| perpetrator noun
| person who committed the crime
| The perpetrator is still at large.
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| pickpocket noun
| a thief who steals from people's pockets in transit or in crowds
| Beware of pickpockets on the subway.
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| pistol noun
| a hand held firearm
| Our local cops carry pistols but rarely use them.
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| pursuit noun
| the act of searching for
| We are in pursuit of a man in a green jacket and orange pants.
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| radar noun/adjective
| radio wave transmission that helps police track cars and map crime scenes
| According to our radar you were driving well above the speed limit.
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| robbery noun
| theft; taking something that does not belong to you, often with force
| We have twenty officers investigating the bank robbery.
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| speeding ticket noun
| a fine given to a driver who gets caught driving beyond the speed limit
| Your license shows a clean driving record except for one speeding ticket from five years ago.
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| steal verb
| to take something that does not belong to you
| Do you know who stole your wallet?
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| street crime noun
| crime such as drugs and prostitution
| Don't give the beggars any money. You will only be promoting street crime.
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| thief noun
| somebody who steals
| We have found the thief who stole your car.
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| walkie-talkie noun
| hand held radio each partner carries
| My partner told me your license plate over his walkie-talkie.
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| wanted adjective
| being searched for by police
| A man from your hotel is wanted for his involvement in a murder.
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| witness verb
| to see something happen
| Three people witnessed the murder but they are afraid to speak.
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| young offender (juvenile delinquent) noun
| a minor who commits a crime (usually under age of 18)
| Your punishment will be less severe because you are a young offender
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