English words for crime and punishment

[marjan17 4,150]

There are many words in English dealing with crime, the courts and punishment.

 

a – acquit / acquittal

 

acquit

 

to decide that someone is not guilty of a crime

"All the defendants were acquitted."

b

 

barrister

a lawyer who is trained to defend or prosecute in a court

"The barrister asked many difficult questions."

 

bail

 

a sum of money that can be paid in some situations to allow someone accused of a crime to stay out of prison before the court case

"He won't get bail – he's extremely violent."

[marjan17 4,150]

c

court

 

the place where a crime is discussed and judged

"He's in court again – this is the second time this year!"

a court case

 

what happens in a court

"This is an interesting court case, as many people are involved."

in custody

 

when the police keep someone in prison before the person goes to court

"He's being kept in custody until the trial begins."

 

custodial sentence

 

when someone is sent to prison for a crime

"Custodial sentences are getting shorter."

conviction

 

when someone is found guilty of a crime

"He had a string of convictions going back twenty years."

 

cross-examination

 

when what someone says is questioned by the barrister representing the other side

"Under cross-examination, her evidence showed some inconsistencies ."

[marjan17 4,150]

d – defend, defendant

to defend

 

to argue the innocence of the person who is accused of a crime (the defendant)

"The barrister defending him is going to have a hard time."

e

evidence

 

information that proves someone is guilty

"The forensic evidence shows that he committed the murder."

f

fine

 

a sum of money that is paid as a punishment for a minor crime

"He got a small fine for speeding."

g

find someone guilty

when it is decided that someone has committed a crime

"He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment."

h

hearsay

 

when you hear something from someone, but you don't know if it is true or not

"Although the police are suspicious, they can't prosecute him on what the neighbours think – it's all hearsay ."

[marjan17 4,150]

i

 

illegal

 

against the law

"The brothers carried out an illegal trade in rare and endangered animals

j

judge

 

a person who is in control of a court. The judge makes sure that both sides of the argument are heard, sums up or explains things to the jury, if necessary, and passes sentence if the defendant is found guilty.

"She's a well-respected judge."

 

jury

 

12 citizens who are selected at random to decide whether someone is guilty or not in a criminal trial

"I have to do jury service next month and I'm a little nervous." "The jury took five hours to find him not guilty."

 

justice

 

how people are judged

"The British justice system is unlike other European systems

l

life sentence

when someone guilty of murder or other serious crimes is sent to prison for "life"

"He's currently serving two life sentences for murder ."

[marjan17 4,150]

m

magistrate

 

someone who judges less serious crimes

"She was in the magistrate's court for shoplifting

n

not guilty

 

when someone is found to be innocent of a crime

"The jury found her not guilty."

o

Old Bailey

 

famous law courts in London, where serious crimes are tried

"The public gallery at the Old Bailey is a good place to witness the British justice system."

p

prosecution

 

the lawyers arguing against the defendant

"The doctor was a witness for the prosecution."

 

parole

 

when a convicted criminal is allowed out of prison before the end of the sentence

"He was sentenced to ten years, but with parole, he'll serve seven years at the most." "She's on parole."

 

plea

a statement in court saying whether a person is guilty or not

"The defendant entered a plea of not guilty."

 

plaintiff

someone who takes a person to court and brings a legal action against them

"The plaintiff stated that the defendant had deliberately destroyed his fence."

[marjan17 4,150]

q

 

QC (Queen's Counsel

a senior barrister

 

r

 

diminished responsibility

 

when someone cannot be held responsible for a crime, because they are mentally ill

"A plea of diminished responsibility was accepted.

s

 

statement

something that a person says is true and which is officially written down

"In your statement to the police, you said that you had left the party at 11 pm."

 

sentence

 

the punishment that a judge gives someone who is guilty of a crime

"People are no longer sentenced to death in the UK."

t

 

trial

 

the court process which decides if someone is guilty or not

"The murder trial is being reported in all the newspapers."

u

 

unsafe conviction

 

when someone has been found guilty because the evidence was wrong or the witnesses didn't tell the truth

"The judge ruled the convictions unsafe and they were released from prison."

v

 

victim

 

the person who has the crime committed against him or her

"The murder victim was aged between 25 and 30."

 

verdict

what the jury decides

"The jury returned a verdict of not guilty."

w

 

witness

 

someone who sees a crime being committed

"The police are appealing for witnesses to come forward."

[farid1367 11]

hi

khubin khastam baton dar mord english ya soal konam?

[marjan17 4,150]

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