Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about crime, law and justice.
Example: The judge decided to _____ the defendant to five years in prison. (sentence / convict / acquit)
Answer: The judge decided to sentence the defendant to five years in prison.
Crime, Law and Justice: Essential B2 Vocabulary
Understanding the language of crime, law and justice is essential for any upper-intermediate learner of English. Whether you are reading a news article about a high-profile court case, watching a legal drama, or discussing social issues with colleagues, this vocabulary appears constantly in everyday life. The words in this lesson range from formal legal terminology to more informal expressions used when talking about criminal behaviour and the justice system.
Setting the Scene
Imagine you are reading a British newspaper. The headline reads: "Suspect Charged with Fraud After Long Investigation." The article describes how a local businessman allegedly embezzled funds from his company over several years. He was arrested last Tuesday, appeared before a magistrate, and was later released on bail pending a full trial. His defence lawyer claims he is innocent, but the prosecution insists the evidence is overwhelming. The jury will ultimately decide his fate.
Every word in that summary connects to the vocabulary you are about to learn. Let us break it all down.
Key Vocabulary & Meaning Breakdown
1. Crime and Criminal Behaviour
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| offence | noun — an act that breaks the law | Drink-driving is a serious criminal offence in the UK. | commit an offence; minor/major offence; criminal offence |
| felony | noun — a very serious crime (more common in American English; in British English, "serious offence" is preferred) | Armed robbery is classified as a felony in many jurisdictions. | Note: British English tends to use "indictable offence" for serious crimes. |
| fraud | noun — deliberate deception to gain money or advantage dishonestly | The accountant was found guilty of tax fraud. | commit fraud; insurance/tax fraud; fraud investigation |
| embezzle | verb — to steal money that has been entrusted to you, especially from an employer | She had been embezzling company funds for three years before anyone noticed. | embezzle funds/money; embezzlement (noun) |
| burglary | noun — illegally entering a building with the intent to steal | There has been a rise in burglary rates in the city centre this winter. | commit burglary; burglary attempt; break-in (informal synonym) |
| assault | noun / verb — a physical or threatened attack on another person | He was charged with assault after the altercation outside the bar. | common assault; sexual assault; assault and battery |
| manslaughter | noun — the unlawful killing of a person without prior intent; less serious than murder | The driver was convicted of manslaughter after the fatal accident. | voluntary/involuntary manslaughter; charged with manslaughter |
| conspiracy | noun — a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful | The two men were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery. | conspiracy to commit [crime]; conspiracy theory (informal); enter into a conspiracy |
| trespassing | noun / verb — entering someone's land or property without permission | The teenagers were cautioned for trespassing on private land. | trespass on property; "No Trespassing" (sign); trespasser (noun) |
| extortion | noun — obtaining something, especially money, through threats or coercion | The gang was convicted of extortion after threatening local business owners. | extortion racket; commit extortion; extort (verb) |
2. The Legal Process and Court Proceedings
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspect | noun / verb — a person believed to have committed a crime; to believe someone is guilty | Police are holding a suspect in connection with the robbery. | prime suspect; question/arrest/detain a suspect; suspect (verb) + of |
| charge | noun / verb — a formal accusation of a crime; to formally accuse someone | She was charged with possession of stolen goods. | bring charges against; face charges; drop charges; charge with + crime |
| prosecute | verb — to bring a criminal case against someone in a court of law | The Crown Prosecution Service decided to prosecute the defendant. | prosecute for + crime; the prosecution (noun); Crown Prosecution Service (UK) |
| defendant | noun — the person accused and on trial in a criminal case | The defendant pleaded not guilty to all three charges. | the defendant and the prosecution; counsel for the defendant |
| acquit | verb — to officially declare that someone is not guilty of a crime | The jury acquitted him of murder but convicted him of manslaughter. | acquitted of + crime; acquittal (noun); be acquitted on all counts |
| convict | verb — to officially find someone guilty of a crime in a court of law | She was convicted of fraud and sentenced to four years in prison. | convicted of + crime; conviction (noun); previous convictions |
| verdict | noun — the official decision reached by a jury or judge | The jury returned a verdict of not guilty after two days of deliberation. | return/reach/deliver a verdict; guilty/not guilty verdict; unanimous verdict |
| bail | noun / verb — temporary release of an accused person while awaiting trial, often with conditions or a sum of money deposited | The judge agreed to release the accused on bail of £10,000. | grant/refuse bail; released on bail; remanded in custody (opposite) |
| testimony | noun — a formal statement made by a witness in court | Her testimony was crucial to proving the defendant's innocence. | give testimony; eyewitness testimony; testimony under oath |
| plea | noun — a formal statement of guilty or not guilty made by the defendant | He entered a plea of not guilty at the start of the trial. | enter a plea; guilty plea; plea bargain; plea of not guilty |
| sentence | noun / verb — the punishment given by a court; to officially give a punishment | The judge sentenced him to five years in prison. | pass/hand down a sentence; suspended sentence; custodial/non-custodial sentence |
| appeal | noun / verb — a request for a higher court to review and change a decision | Her legal team lodged an appeal against the conviction. | lodge/file an appeal; appeal against + decision; Court of Appeal |
3. People in the Justice System and Key Concepts
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| perpetrator | noun — the person who commits a crime or harmful act | The perpetrator of the attack was identified using CCTV footage. | identify/catch the perpetrator; perpetrate (verb); perpetration (noun) |
| accomplice | noun — a person who helps another commit a crime | The bank robber was caught along with his accomplice. | act as an accomplice; accomplice to + crime; accessory (formal synonym) |
| witness | noun / verb — a person who sees an event take place; to see an event | Several witnesses came forward after the incident was reported. | eyewitness; key/crucial witness; witness statement; call a witness |
| magistrate | noun — a judge who deals with less serious criminal cases in a lower court | The case was first heard before a magistrate at the local court. | appear before a magistrate; magistrate's court (UK); justice of the peace |
| barrister | noun — a lawyer qualified to argue cases in higher courts (British English) | She hired an experienced barrister to represent her in the Crown Court. | Note: In American English, "attorney" is more common; "solicitor" handles paperwork and advises clients. |
| deterrent | noun / adjective — something that discourages or prevents criminal behaviour | Many people believe harsher sentences act as a deterrent to crime. | act as a deterrent; effective deterrent; deter (verb); deterrence (noun) |
| recidivism | noun — the tendency to reoffend or return to criminal behaviour | The government introduced rehabilitation programmes to reduce recidivism rates. | recidivism rates; recidivist (noun); reoffend (common verb alternative) |
| rehabilitation | noun — the process of helping a criminal return to a normal, law-abiding life | Rehabilitation, rather than punishment, should be the goal of the prison system. | rehabilitation programme; rehabilitate (verb); rehabilitation centre |
| liability | noun — legal responsibility for something, especially paying damages | The company accepted liability for the accident and agreed to compensate victims. | civil/criminal liability; accept/deny liability; liable (adjective) |
| jurisdiction | noun — the official power to make legal decisions in a particular area or territory | The crime was committed at sea, so it fell outside local police jurisdiction. | within/outside jurisdiction; under the jurisdiction of; legal jurisdiction |
Collocations & Useful Expressions
Collocations — words that naturally go together — are particularly important in legal English. Learning these combinations will make your English sound far more natural and fluent.
Crime Collocations
commit + a crime / an offence / fraud / assault
He committed several offences before he was finally caught.
carry out + an investigation / a robbery / an attack
The police carried out a thorough investigation into the fraud.
break + the law
She knew she was breaking the law but did it anyway.
face + charges / a fine / a prison sentence / justice
The former CEO now faces charges of insider trading.
a rise / increase in crime
There has been a significant rise in cybercrime over the past decade.
Legal Process Collocations
stand trial (for)
The three men will stand trial next month for the alleged robbery.
plead guilty / not guilty
The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.
pass / hand down / impose a sentence
The judge handed down a custodial sentence of three years.
give / deliver / reach a verdict
After six hours of deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous verdict.
serve a sentence / serve time
He served eight years of a twelve-year sentence before being released on parole.
lodge / file / appeal against a conviction
Her legal team immediately lodged an appeal against the conviction.
Justice and Society Collocations
uphold / enforce the law
It is the duty of the police to uphold the law at all times.
miscarriage of justice
After twenty years in prison, it was finally revealed that his conviction had been a miscarriage of justice.
bring someone to justice
It took years for investigators to finally bring the gang leader to justice.
the burden of proof
In a criminal trial, the burden of proof lies with the prosecution.
innocent until proven guilty
One of the cornerstones of the British legal system is that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
Important Differences & Confusing Words
Crime vs Offence vs Misdemeanour
These three words are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences:
- Crime — a general word for any act that breaks the law. It can refer to both minor and serious violations. "Theft is a crime."
- Offence — a more formal, legal term for a specific act that breaks the law. Often used in official documents, court proceedings, and news reports. "He was charged with a driving offence."
- Misdemeanour — a relatively minor offence, less serious than a major crime. In British English, this word is slightly old-fashioned; "minor offence" is more commonly used. In American English, it is a formal legal category. "Parking on a double yellow line is a minor misdemeanour."
Robbery vs Theft vs Burglary
These three words all refer to taking something that belongs to someone else, but they are not the same:
- Theft — the general word for taking another person's property without permission. "Shoplifting is a form of theft."
- Robbery — theft that involves using or threatening violence or force against a person. "He was found guilty of armed robbery."
- Burglary — illegally entering a building (especially a home) with the intention of committing a crime, usually theft. No direct confrontation with a person is required. "The family returned to find their house had been broken into — a case of burglary."
Barrister vs Solicitor vs Lawyer
- Lawyer — a general term for any legal professional. It can refer to either a barrister or a solicitor and is used in both British and American English. "She wants to become a lawyer when she graduates."
- Solicitor — in British English, a lawyer who advises clients, handles legal paperwork, and deals with property, wills, and family matters. They generally do not argue cases in higher courts. "I need to speak to my solicitor about the contract."
- Barrister — in British English, a specialist lawyer who is qualified to represent clients in higher courts. Solicitors often instruct barristers to argue cases. "The barrister presented a compelling argument to the jury."
Guilty vs Liable
- Guilty — used in criminal law. A person found guilty has been convicted of a criminal offence. "The jury found her guilty of manslaughter."
- Liable — used in civil law. A person found liable is held legally responsible for harm or damage and must usually pay compensation. "The company was found liable for the injuries caused to workers."
Common Mistakes
❌ He was accused for murder.
✅ He was accused of murder. — Always use accuse of, not accuse for.
❌ The defendant was convicted for fraud.
✅ The defendant was convicted of fraud. — Use convicted of, not convicted for.
❌ The thief robbed the bank and stole her handbag.
✅ You rob a person or a place, but steal a thing. — He robbed the bank. He stole £10,000. He stole her handbag from her.
❌ The police arrested the robber and charged for robbery.
✅ The police arrested the robber and charged him with robbery. — Use charge with, not charge for.
❌ She pleaded innocent in court.
✅ She pleaded not guilty in court. — In legal English, the correct term is not guilty, not innocent.
❌ The judge gave him a sentence of paying a fine for his crime.
✅ The judge sentenced him to pay a fine. — Use sentence someone to + punishment.
❌ The murder happened with no proof.
✅ The conviction could not proceed without sufficient evidence. — In legal contexts, use evidence (facts presented in court), not proof loosely. Proof implies something has been conclusively established.
Crime, Law and Justice: Quick Summary & Review
In this lesson, you have explored a wide range of vocabulary related to crime, law and justice. Here is a quick review of the key areas covered:
- Types of crime: offence, fraud, burglary, assault, manslaughter, extortion, conspiracy — each with specific legal meaning and context.
- The legal process: from being a suspect, to being charged, going to trial, entering a plea, having a verdict delivered, and potentially appealing a decision.
- Key people: perpetrators, accomplices, witnesses, magistrates, barristers, and solicitors all play specific roles in the justice system.
- Important concepts: deterrence, rehabilitation, recidivism, jurisdiction, and liability reflect the deeper social and philosophical questions surrounding justice.
- Collocations: commit a crime, stand trial, plead guilty, serve a sentence, bring someone to justice, and miscarriage of justice are all natural, high-frequency expressions.
- Common confusions: Remember — you accuse/convict of, you charge with, you rob people and places but steal things, and you always plead not guilty, never innocent.
Mastering the vocabulary of crime, law and justice will allow you to engage confidently with news reports, legal dramas, academic essays, and formal discussions on social policy — all of which are important at the B2 level and beyond.
Now practise crime, law and justice vocabulary in the exercises below.
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