Criminal Law & Justice Vocabulary: 100 Key English Terms
Criminal law English is the language of police reports, court hearings, crime news and cooperation between justice systems in different countries. These are the words that defence lawyers, police officers and law students meet first: crimes and their elements, investigation and arrest, charges, trial and verdict, sentencing, prisons and probation, and the rights of victims. Many of these terms do not match Turkish criminal procedure one to one, so each entry explains the concept as well as the word.
100 terms
10 topics
50 core terms
278 example sentences
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Crimes & Offences
crime
noun
Meaning
An act that breaks the criminal law and can be punished by the state, for example with a fine or prison; used without an article, it also means illegal activity in general.
Where you use it
Countable for a single act ('a serious crime') and uncountable for crime in general ('fighting crime', 'crime rates'). You commit a crime, report a crime and solve a crime. Police and journalists use it constantly, while statutes prefer 'offence'.
Examples
Most of the crimes reported in the district last year were thefts from parked cars.
He was eighteen when he committed his first crime.
The new police chief promised to cut crime in the city centre.
Usage note
Say 'commit a crime', not 'do a crime' or 'make a crime'.
Common phrases
commit a crime · report a crime · solve a crime · serious crime · crime rate
A formal word for an illegal act that the law punishes, from minor ones such as speeding to serious ones such as robbery.
Where you use it
The standard word in statutes, charges and court documents: 'commit an offence', 'be charged with an offence', 'a criminal offence'. Lawyers also speak of 'minor offences', 'serious offences' and 'driving offences'. It is countable.
Examples
Carrying a knife in public without a good reason is an offence.
He was charged with three offences, including dangerous driving.
It was her first offence, so the court gave her a fine.
Usage note
British spelling is 'offence', American spelling is 'offense'. Do not confuse it with 'offensive' (rude, insulting).
Common phrases
commit an offence · criminal offence · minor offence · serious offence · first offence
The crime of taking someone else's property without permission and with the intention of keeping it.
Where you use it
A general word in law and the news: 'car theft', 'identity theft', 'theft from a shop'. The person is a 'thief' and the verb is 'steal' (stole, stolen). Police also speak of 'reports of theft' and 'theft offences'.
Examples
Reports of bicycle theft doubled over the summer.
He admitted the theft of two laptops from his former employer.
Identity theft often begins with a fake email.
Usage note
You 'steal' a thing but 'rob' a person or place: 'They stole my phone' but 'They robbed me'.
Common phrases
car theft · identity theft · petty theft · report a theft · charged with theft
The crime of unlawfully and deliberately killing another person; it is one of the most serious offences in every legal system.
Where you use it
Used as a noun ('charged with murder', 'a murder investigation') and a verb ('he was accused of murdering his business partner'). Lawyers separate murder from 'manslaughter', where the intention or blame is lower. The person is a 'murderer'; 'attempted murder' is a separate charge.
Examples
Detectives have launched a murder investigation after a body was found near the river.
He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Murder carries a mandatory life sentence in England and Wales.
The crime of attacking someone physically or, in strict legal use, making someone fear that they are about to be attacked.
Where you use it
Used as a noun ('charged with assault', 'sexual assault') and a verb ('he assaulted a police officer'). English law separates 'common assault' from more serious offences such as 'actual bodily harm' (ABH) and 'grievous bodily harm' (GBH). American law often speaks of 'aggravated assault'.
Examples
He was arrested for assault after a fight outside a nightclub.
Assaults on hospital staff have increased this year.
She was charged with assaulting a police officer.
Usage note
In technical English law, assault can happen without any touching; the physical contact itself is 'battery'. In everyday English, 'assault' usually means a physical attack.
Common phrases
charged with assault · common assault · sexual assault · aggravated assault · assault a police officer
The crime of stealing from a person or place by using force or the threat of force.
Where you use it
Common in police reports and news: 'armed robbery', 'bank robbery', 'street robbery'. The verb is 'rob' and the person is a 'robber'. The use or threat of violence is what makes it more serious than simple theft.
Examples
Two men have been charged with armed robbery at a petrol station.
The robbery took less than two minutes.
He was robbed of his phone on the way home.
Usage note
A common mistake is translating 'robbery' as 'hırsızlık'. Hırsızlık is 'theft'; robbery involves force or threats, so the Turkish legal term is 'yağma'.
Common phrases
armed robbery · bank robbery · street robbery · commit a robbery · robbery suspect
The crime of entering a building without permission in order to steal or commit another crime inside.
Where you use it
Very common in police work: 'domestic burglary' (homes) and 'commercial burglary' (shops and offices). The person is a 'burglar' and the verb is 'burgle' (UK) or 'burglarize' (US). Victims say 'my house was burgled' or 'broken into'.
Examples
Burglary rates usually rise in winter, when it gets dark early.
The burglar got in through an open kitchen window.
He has two previous convictions for burglary.
Usage note
Thief, robber and burglar are different: a thief steals, a robber uses force or threats, and a burglar enters a building to steal.
Common phrases
domestic burglary · commit a burglary · burglary suspect · aggravated burglary · report a burglary
The crime of deceiving people, for example with false information or fake documents, in order to get money, property or another advantage.
Where you use it
Usually uncountable: 'commit fraud', 'charged with fraud', 'fraud investigation'. Common types are 'credit card fraud', 'tax fraud', 'insurance fraud' and 'online fraud'. The person is a 'fraudster' (UK) and the adjective is 'fraudulent'.
Examples
The accountant was jailed for a fraud worth two million euros.
Banks warn customers about phone fraud every month.
The crime of producing, transporting or selling illegal drugs, often in large amounts and across borders.
Where you use it
Used in charges, police statistics and international cooperation: 'charged with drug trafficking', 'a drug trafficking network', 'drug trafficking offences'. The people involved are 'drug traffickers' or, at street level, 'drug dealers'. It is punished much more severely than simple 'possession' for personal use.
Examples
Five men were arrested in a major drug trafficking operation.
He is serving twelve years for drug trafficking.
Drug trafficking routes often pass through several countries.
Common phrases
drug trafficking network · charged with drug trafficking · drug trafficking offences · international drug trafficking
The crime of unlawfully killing someone without the intention needed for murder, or with a partial defence such as loss of control.
Where you use it
English law divides it into 'voluntary manslaughter' (a killing reduced from murder, for example because of loss of control) and 'involuntary manslaughter' (no intention to kill, for example a death caused by an unlawful act or gross negligence). Unlike murder in England, it has no mandatory life sentence.
Examples
The charge was reduced from murder to manslaughter.
He was convicted of manslaughter after a single punch caused the victim's death.
The company was found guilty of corporate manslaughter after a worker died.
Usage note
No single Turkish term covers 'manslaughter'. Translate according to the facts, and keep the English term in brackets in legal translations.
The crime of offering, giving, asking for or accepting money or another advantage to influence how someone does their job, especially a public official.
Where you use it
Used in criminal law, compliance and business: 'charged with bribery', 'bribery and corruption', 'anti-bribery policy'. A single payment is 'a bribe': people 'offer', 'pay', 'take' or 'accept' a bribe, and the verb is 'bribe someone'.
Examples
The inspector was accused of taking bribes from builders.
The company introduced strict rules to prevent bribery.
Both men were convicted of bribery.
Common phrases
charged with bribery · bribery and corruption · take a bribe · offer a bribe · anti-bribery policy
The crime of hiding where illegal money came from by moving it through banks, businesses or other transactions so that it looks legal.
Where you use it
Used in criminal law, banking and compliance: 'money laundering charges', 'anti-money laundering (AML) rules', 'suspicious transactions'. Banks must report suspicious activity to the authorities. The verb is 'launder money'.
Examples
The couple were charged with money laundering after buying three flats in cash.
Banks invest heavily in systems that detect money laundering.
The investigation uncovered a money laundering network linked to drug trafficking.
The crime of taking a person away by force or deception and holding them against their will, sometimes to demand money.
Where you use it
Used in news and charges: 'charged with kidnapping', 'a kidnapping attempt', 'kidnapping for ransom'. The verb is 'kidnap' and the person is a 'kidnapper'. 'Abduction' is a close, more formal word, often used when a parent takes a child unlawfully.
Examples
Three men were convicted of kidnapping a businessman and demanding a ransom.
Police treated the case as a kidnapping after the family received a phone call.
Common phrases
charged with kidnapping · kidnapping for ransom · attempted kidnapping · kidnapping plot
Crime committed using computers or the internet, such as hacking, online fraud, identity theft or spreading malicious software.
Where you use it
Uncountable for the whole area ('the rise of cybercrime') and countable for single acts ('a cybercrime'). Police forces have 'cybercrime units', and cases often need international cooperation because offenders and victims are in different countries.
Examples
Cybercrime now accounts for a large share of reported fraud.
She works for the national cybercrime unit.
Many small businesses never report cybercrime.
Common phrases
cybercrime unit · victims of cybercrime · fight cybercrime · rise in cybercrime
Violent, threatening or controlling behaviour by one person against a partner, former partner or family member.
Where you use it
Used by police, courts, social services and charities: 'victims of domestic violence', 'a domestic violence case', 'report domestic violence'. Many official texts now say 'domestic abuse', because the term also covers emotional, financial and controlling behaviour.
Examples
Police receive calls about domestic violence every day.
The court heard that the domestic violence had gone on for years.
Specialist officers support victims of domestic violence.
Common phrases
victims of domestic violence · domestic violence case · report domestic violence · domestic abuse
In the US, a serious crime such as murder, robbery or burglary, usually punishable by more than one year in prison; less serious crimes are misdemeanors.
Where you use it
Mainly American: 'a felony charge', 'convicted of a felony', 'felony conviction'. A person with a felony conviction is a 'felon' and may lose certain rights. England and Wales abolished the felony and misdemeanour distinction in 1967, so British texts speak of 'indictable' and 'summary' offences instead.
Examples
Possession of a stolen gun is a felony in that state.
He has two felony convictions and several misdemeanors.
Usage note
The opposite term is spelled 'misdemeanor' in American English and 'misdemeanour' in British English.
Common phrases
felony charge · convicted of a felony · felony conviction · commit a felony
The crime of deliberately telling a lie in court or in another official statement after promising to tell the truth.
Where you use it
Used in court and the news: 'commit perjury', 'charged with perjury', 'perjury trial'. The everyday phrase is 'lie under oath'. Perjury is treated seriously because the whole justice system depends on truthful evidence.
Examples
The witness was later charged with perjury.
If you lie in court, you could be prosecuted for perjury.
Common phrases
commit perjury · charged with perjury · lie under oath · perjury trial
Connected with crime or with the part of the law that deals with crime; as a noun, a person who has committed a crime.
Where you use it
As an adjective it appears in many fixed terms: criminal law, criminal court, criminal case, criminal offence, criminal investigation. As a noun ('a dangerous criminal') it is common in news and everyday speech; lawyers usually prefer 'offender' or 'defendant'.
Examples
She has worked as a criminal lawyer for fifteen years.
The company now faces a criminal investigation as well as a civil lawsuit.
Not every breach of a contract is criminal; most disputes are settled in the civil courts.
Usage note
In legal English, 'criminal' is the opposite of 'civil': a criminal case is brought by the state, a civil case by a private person or company.
Common phrases
criminal law · criminal case · criminal court · criminal investigation · criminal offence
A person who has committed a crime, especially one who has been convicted; the word is common in sentencing, prisons and probation.
Where you use it
Professional and neutral, preferred over 'criminal' in official texts: 'first-time offender', 'repeat offender', 'young offender', 'violent offender'. Probation officers 'work with offenders' and courts 'deal with' them.
Examples
As a first-time offender, he was ordered to do unpaid work instead of going to prison.
The programme helps offenders find work after prison.
Repeat offenders usually receive longer sentences.
The mental decision to do something or to bring about a particular result; many serious crimes can only be committed with intent.
Where you use it
Common in charges and judgments: 'with intent to', 'intent to kill', 'intent to supply' (drugs), 'criminal intent'. British judges also say 'intention'. Proving intent often depends on the defendant's actions and words, because nobody can see inside another person's mind.
Examples
He was charged with possession of drugs with intent to supply.
The jury had to decide whether she acted with intent or by accident.
There was no evidence of an intent to kill.
Common phrases
with intent to · intent to kill · criminal intent · prove intent · lack of intent
The reason why a person commits a crime, such as money, jealousy or revenge.
Where you use it
Detectives ask 'What was the motive?' and look for 'a possible motive'; journalists write about 'a financial motive'. Motive is different from intent: the prosecution usually does not have to prove why the defendant acted, but a clear motive can make its case stronger.
Examples
Police believe the motive was robbery.
We still have no motive for the attack.
The prosecution argued that he had a strong financial motive.
Common phrases
possible motive · financial motive · establish a motive · motive for the crime · no apparent motive
A person who helps someone else commit a crime, for example by planning it, keeping watch or driving the getaway car.
Where you use it
Used in news and court reports: 'he and an accomplice', 'an accomplice to murder', 'police are looking for a second accomplice'. In many systems an accomplice can be punished as if they had committed the crime themselves. Lawyers also speak of people who 'aid and abet' a crime.
Examples
The robber's accomplice waited outside in a stolen car.
She was convicted as an accomplice even though she never entered the bank.
Detectives believe he had at least one accomplice.
Common phrases
an accomplice to · alleged accomplice · act as an accomplice · aid and abet
The person who actually committed a crime or a harmful act; a formal word used by police, courts and researchers.
Where you use it
Formal and common in reports and the media: 'the perpetrators', 'bring the perpetrators to justice', 'perpetrators of domestic violence'. The verb 'perpetrate' (commit) is very formal. The short form 'perp' is police slang, mostly heard in American films and series.
Examples
Police are determined to find the perpetrators.
The programme works with perpetrators of domestic violence to change their behaviour.
The perpetrator has never been identified.
Common phrases
bring the perpetrators to justice · alleged perpetrator · identify the perpetrator · perpetrators of violence
A Latin term meaning 'guilty mind': the mental element of a crime, such as intention, knowledge or recklessness, which the prosecution must prove.
Where you use it
A basic term in criminal law courses and judgments, almost always paired with 'actus reus': 'the mens rea for murder is an intention to kill or to cause serious harm'. Lawyers ask whether the defendant 'had the necessary mens rea'. Some minor offences need no mens rea at all ('strict liability').
Examples
The prosecution failed to prove mens rea, so the charge could not succeed.
In first-year criminal law, students learn that most offences need both actus reus and mens rea.
Usage note
Pronunciation varies: 'menz RAY-uh' and 'menz REE-uh' are both heard.
Common phrases
prove mens rea · the necessary mens rea · actus reus and mens rea · lack of mens rea
A Latin term meaning 'guilty act': the physical part of a crime, such as an action, a failure to act or a result that the law forbids.
Where you use it
Used together with 'mens rea' in textbooks, exams and judgments: 'the actus reus of theft is appropriating property belonging to another'. Students analyse a problem by asking whether the defendant 'committed the actus reus' and whether it happened at the same time as the mens rea.
Examples
Failing to feed a child can be the actus reus of some offences.
The court found that the actus reus was complete when he took the money.
Common phrases
commit the actus reus · actus reus and mens rea · the actus reus of theft · elements of the offence
A serious failure to take the care that a reasonable person would take, which causes harm or death and is serious enough to be treated as a crime.
Where you use it
Used for cases such as deaths caused by unsafe work practices, medical errors or neglect of a child. English law speaks of 'gross negligence manslaughter'; other common law countries use 'criminal negligence' directly. Ordinary carelessness is usually a civil matter, not a crime.
Examples
The site manager was charged with criminal negligence after a worker was seriously injured.
Leaving the child alone for two days amounted to criminal negligence.
Common phrases
charged with criminal negligence · gross negligence · criminal negligence causing death · gross negligence manslaughter
The crime of trying to commit an offence and taking real steps towards it, even though the offence is not completed.
Where you use it
Usually seen as 'attempted' before the name of the offence: 'attempted murder', 'attempted robbery', 'attempted burglary'. Lawyers ask whether the defendant went beyond 'merely preparatory' acts. Attempts are often punished less severely than the completed offence.
Examples
He was charged with attempted murder.
Buying a mask was not enough to prove an attempt to rob the bank.
The legal right to use reasonable force to protect yourself or another person from an attack; it can be a complete defence to a criminal charge.
Where you use it
Defendants 'claim' or 'plead' self-defence, and people 'act in self-defence'. Courts ask whether the force used was 'reasonable' or 'proportionate' in the circumstances. The American spelling is 'self-defense'.
Examples
She told police she had hit him in self-defence.
The jury accepted his claim of self-defence and acquitted him.
Common phrases
act in self-defence · claim self-defence · reasonable force · plead self-defence
Legal responsibility for a crime, which means that a person can be prosecuted and punished for it.
Where you use it
Common in statutes and legal analysis: 'incur criminal liability', 'exempt from criminal liability', 'corporate criminal liability' (for companies). The related phrase 'age of criminal responsibility' is the age below which children cannot be prosecuted: 10 in England and Wales, 12 in Turkey.
Examples
Directors can face criminal liability if safety rules are ignored.
Children under the age of twelve have no criminal liability in Turkey.
Common phrases
criminal liability for · incur criminal liability · corporate criminal liability · age of criminal responsibility
A person whom the police believe may have committed a crime but who has not yet been charged or found guilty.
Where you use it
Used by police and the media throughout an investigation: 'the main suspect', 'a suspect was arrested', 'police are looking for two suspects'. Once formally charged, the person is called the accused or, in court, the defendant. The verb 'suspect' means to believe someone may be guilty.
Examples
Police have released a photo of the suspect and asked the public for help.
Two suspects were taken to the station for questioning.
The officer suspected that the driver had been drinking.
Usage note
The stress changes with the word class: the noun is SUSpect, the verb is susPECT.
Common phrases
main suspect · prime suspect · arrest a suspect · identify a suspect · murder suspect
To take a person into police control using legal powers, usually because they are suspected of a crime; the noun 'arrest' names this act.
Where you use it
Police 'arrest someone for' an offence, and the person is 'under arrest'. Common patterns: 'arrest someone on suspicion of fraud', 'make an arrest', 'resist arrest'. Being arrested does not mean the person is guilty or has been charged.
Examples
A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary.
You are under arrest. You do not have to say anything.
The police made three arrests after the match.
Usage note
A classic false friend: 'arrest' is not 'tutuklama'. Arrest is the police taking someone in (yakalama, gözaltı); tutuklama is a judge's order to keep a suspect in detention, which is 'remand in custody' or 'pretrial detention' in English.
Common phrases
arrest someone for · under arrest · arrested on suspicion of · make an arrest · resist arrest
The process in which police or prosecutors collect facts and evidence to find out whether a crime was committed and who committed it.
Where you use it
Police 'launch', 'open' or 'carry out' an investigation; a person can be 'under investigation'; an investigation can be 'closed' or 'dropped'. 'Criminal investigation' is the full phrase, and 'inquiry' is a common British alternative.
Examples
The investigation is still at an early stage, so we cannot comment on the motive.
Two officers are now under investigation for misconduct.
Prosecutors opened an investigation into the missing funds.
Common phrases
launch an investigation · criminal investigation · under investigation · investigation into · lead an investigation
The state of being held by the police or kept in prison, for example after an arrest or while waiting for trial.
Where you use it
'Police custody' is the period at the police station after an arrest; 'remanded in custody' means a court has ordered the person to be held in prison until trial. Common patterns: 'take someone into custody', 'be held in custody', 'release from custody'.
Examples
The suspect is still in police custody.
She was taken into custody at the airport.
He will remain in custody until his trial in June.
Usage note
In family law 'custody' means the right to look after a child (velayet), so check the context.
Common phrases
police custody · in custody · take into custody · remanded in custody · custody officer
A written or recorded account of what a person saw, heard or did, given formally to the police or a court.
Where you use it
Witnesses 'give' or 'make' a statement; police officers 'take' one. A 'witness statement' may be read in court, and suspects sometimes give a 'prepared statement' through their lawyer. Statements are usually signed to confirm that they are true.
Examples
Officers took statements from everyone who was in the bar.
In her statement, she described the car in detail.
He later said his statement had been made under pressure.
Usage note
'Statement' also means a public announcement ('a police statement') or a bank document, so check whether a text means evidence or a press release.
Common phrases
give a statement · take a statement · witness statement · sign a statement · prepared statement
A statement in which a person admits that they committed a crime, usually made to the police during questioning.
Where you use it
Suspects 'make' or 'sign' a confession and may later 'retract' it. Courts examine whether a confession was given freely; one obtained by force, threats or unfair pressure is excluded. The verb is 'confess (to)'.
Examples
The suspect made a full confession after six hours.
His lawyer argued that the confession was obtained under pressure.
Without the confession, the evidence against her was weak.
Common phrases
make a confession · full confession · retract a confession · false confession · signed confession
An official document signed by a judge that allows the police to do something, such as arrest a person or search a property.
Where you use it
Judges 'issue' warrants and police 'execute' them. The two most common are an 'arrest warrant' and a 'search warrant'; 'a warrant is out for his arrest' means the police are looking for him. Acting 'without a warrant' often raises questions about whether evidence is admissible.
Examples
Police obtained a search warrant for the flat.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Officers entered the building without a warrant.
Common phrases
arrest warrant · search warrant · issue a warrant · execute a warrant · European Arrest Warrant
To keep someone officially in a place, such as a police station or prison, and not let them leave.
Where you use it
Common in police and human rights language: 'detained for questioning', 'detained without charge', 'unlawfully detained'. The noun is 'detention' and the person held is a 'detainee'. 'Detain' is broader than 'arrest' and is also used for immigration and border checks.
Examples
Three people were detained after the fight outside the stadium.
The law limits how long the police can detain a suspect without charge.
He was detained at the border because of a problem with his passport.
Common phrases
detained for questioning · detained without charge · unlawfully detained · detention centre
The formal and often long questioning of a suspect by the police or other officials in order to get information or a confession.
Where you use it
Common in American English, news and human rights reports: 'police interrogation', 'interrogation room', 'under interrogation'. British police prefer the neutral word 'interview' ('an interview under caution'). Interrogations are usually recorded, and lawyers check whether the suspect's rights were respected.
Examples
The interrogation lasted more than seven hours.
Every police interrogation at the station is video recorded.
He claimed he was denied a lawyer during the interrogation.
A suspect's legal right not to answer questions from the police or the court, so that nobody can be forced to give evidence against themselves.
Where you use it
Best known from the American 'Miranda warning', which begins 'You have the right to remain silent'. Lawyers say a suspect 'exercised' or 'invoked' the right. In England and Wales the police caution warns that staying silent may harm the defence later, because courts can sometimes draw conclusions from silence.
Examples
The officer reminded him of his right to remain silent.
She used her right to remain silent and answered 'no comment' to every question.
Common phrases
exercise the right to remain silent · invoke the right to remain silent · Miranda warning · no comment interview
To take something away officially using legal powers, for example drugs, weapons, documents or money connected with a crime.
Where you use it
Police, customs and courts seize items: 'drugs worth two million euros were seized', 'officers seized computers and phones'. The noun is 'seizure' ('a large drugs seizure'). Seized items are kept as evidence or may be 'confiscated' permanently after a conviction.
Examples
Police seized three kilos of cocaine during the raid.
His laptop was seized as part of the investigation.
Customs officers made the biggest seizure of the year at the port.
To go to the police on your own and let them arrest you, especially when they are already looking for you.
Where you use it
Common in news and police appeals: 'he turned himself in at a police station', 'police urged the suspect to turn himself in'. British English also says 'hand yourself in' and 'give yourself up'. Surrendering voluntarily can sometimes be taken into account later by the court.
Examples
Police issued a short message: 'If you were involved, turn yourself in now.'
Did you turn yourself in, or did they arrest you at home?
Usage note
The pronoun changes with the subject: 'he turned himself in', 'they turned themselves in'.
Common phrases
turn yourself in to the police · urge someone to turn themselves in · hand yourself in · give yourself up
Trying to avoid being caught by the police, usually by hiding or moving from place to place after a crime or an escape.
Where you use it
Common in news and police appeals: 'be on the run', 'go on the run', 'after three weeks on the run'. Police may describe the person as 'wanted' and ask the public not to approach them. The more formal noun is 'fugitive'.
Examples
The suspect has been on the run since Friday.
After two months on the run, he was arrested at a friend's flat.
She went on the run after missing her court date.
Common phrases
be on the run · go on the run · on the run from the police · after weeks on the run
Information, objects, documents or testimony that a court can use to decide whether something is true, for example whether the defendant committed the crime.
Where you use it
Uncountable: 'evidence', 'a piece of evidence', 'new evidence'. Police 'gather' or 'collect' evidence, prosecutors 'present' it and judges decide whether it is 'admissible'. In British usage, witnesses 'give evidence' in court.
Examples
There was not enough evidence to charge him.
The knife was the key piece of evidence in the case.
The officer gave evidence on the second day of the trial.
Usage note
'Evidences' is a common mistake. Say 'evidence', 'pieces of evidence' or 'items of evidence'.
Common phrases
gather evidence · piece of evidence · lack of evidence · give evidence · forensic evidence
A person who saw or heard something connected with a crime, or who gives information about it in court.
Where you use it
Police 'appeal for witnesses' after an incident; lawyers 'call' and 'question' witnesses at trial. An 'eyewitness' saw the event directly; an 'expert witness' gives a professional opinion. It is also a verb: 'Did anyone witness the attack?'
Examples
Police are appealing for witnesses who were near the station at about 10 pm.
The defence called two witnesses who said he was at work that evening.
She witnessed the robbery from her shop window.
Common phrases
key witness · eyewitness · expert witness · call a witness · appeal for witnesses
To make a formal statement in court about what you know or saw, usually after promising to tell the truth.
Where you use it
Witnesses 'testify for' or 'against' a defendant and 'testify under oath'. In common law systems the defendant can also choose to testify. The noun is 'testimony'; British courts often say 'give evidence' instead.
Examples
The neighbour testified that she heard shouting at around midnight.
He agreed to testify against the other members of the gang.
The defendant chose not to testify.
Common phrases
testify against · testify under oath · testify in court · refuse to testify
The place where a crime happened, where police and forensic experts look for evidence before anything is moved.
Where you use it
Police 'secure', 'seal off' or 'examine' a crime scene and put up tape to keep people out. 'Crime scene investigators' (US) or 'scenes of crime officers' (UK) collect evidence there. If the scene is disturbed, evidence may become useless in court.
Examples
Nobody was allowed to enter the crime scene until the forensic team arrived.
Officers found a glove about fifty metres from the crime scene.
The defence questioned how the crime scene had been handled.
Common phrases
secure the crime scene · crime scene investigator · crime scene tape · at the crime scene
Using scientific methods to investigate crimes and produce evidence for courts, such as analysing blood, fibres or digital data.
Where you use it
Mostly before nouns: 'forensic evidence', 'forensic science', 'forensic medicine', 'forensic team', 'forensic accountant'. The noun 'forensics' means forensic science or the forensic department ('we are waiting for forensics').
Examples
Forensic experts spent two days examining the car.
There is no forensic evidence linking him to the scene.
A forensic accountant traced the missing money.
Common phrases
forensic evidence · forensic science · forensic medicine · forensic team · forensic examination
The pattern of lines on the end of a finger, or the mark it leaves on a surface, which police use to identify people.
Where you use it
Police 'take' a suspect's fingerprints and 'lift' or 'find' fingerprints at a scene; a 'match' links a print to a person. Informally people say 'prints' ('his prints were on the glass'). The verb 'fingerprint someone' means to record their prints.
Examples
His fingerprints were found on the inside of the window.
All suspects are photographed and fingerprinted at the station.
The fingerprint did not match anyone on the database.
Common phrases
take fingerprints · lift fingerprints · fingerprint match · fingerprint database · leave fingerprints
Evidence or a claim that a person was somewhere else when the crime happened, so they could not have committed it.
Where you use it
Suspects 'have', 'provide' or 'give' an alibi; police 'check' it, and it can be 'confirmed', 'solid' or 'false'. Defence teams often support an alibi with witnesses, receipts, phone data or CCTV.
Examples
His alibi was confirmed by two colleagues who were with him at dinner.
Police found that her alibi was false.
Does he have an alibi for the night of the fire?
Usage note
In everyday English 'alibi' can also mean an excuse: 'Bad weather was his alibi for missing the meeting.'
Common phrases
have an alibi · provide an alibi · check an alibi · solid alibi · false alibi
Closed-circuit television: a system of video cameras that record public or private places and is often used as evidence in criminal cases.
Where you use it
Very common in British police work: 'CCTV footage', 'CCTV images', 'caught on CCTV', 'check the CCTV'. Police 'release' CCTV images of suspects and ask the public for help. American English more often says 'security camera footage' or 'surveillance video'.
Examples
CCTV footage shows the suspect leaving the shop at 9:42.
Officers are checking CCTV from nearby streets.
The whole incident was caught on CCTV.
Common phrases
CCTV footage · caught on CCTV · CCTV camera · check the CCTV · release CCTV images
Evidence based on the genetic material in body cells, such as hair, skin or saliva, which can link a person to a place or object with a high degree of certainty.
Where you use it
Forensic scientists 'take a DNA sample', create a 'DNA profile' and look for a 'DNA match' on a database. DNA evidence has solved old 'cold cases' and has also shown that some convicted people were innocent. Lawyers often question how samples were collected and stored.
Examples
DNA evidence linked him to a burglary that happened ten years earlier.
The defence argued that the DNA evidence could have been contaminated.
New DNA evidence led to the case being reopened.
Usage note
DNA is read letter by letter in English: 'dee-en-ay'.
Common phrases
DNA sample · DNA profile · DNA match · DNA database · contaminated DNA evidence
To formally accuse someone of a particular crime so that the case can go to court; as a noun, a charge is the formal accusation itself.
Where you use it
The pattern is 'charge someone with an offence': 'She was charged with fraud'. As a noun: 'face charges', 'bring charges', 'deny the charges', 'the charges were dropped'. In England and Wales the police or the Crown Prosecution Service decide whether to charge.
Examples
He was charged with assault and will appear in court next week.
She denies all the charges against her.
Police released the man without charge after twelve hours.
Usage note
Use 'with' after the verb: 'charged with theft', not 'charged for theft' or 'charged of theft'. 'Charge' also means a price or fee, so check the context.
Common phrases
charge someone with · face charges · bring charges · deny the charges · released without charge
Permission for a suspect or defendant to stay out of custody until the next stage of the case, often with conditions or a sum of money paid as a guarantee.
Where you use it
A court 'grants' or 'refuses' bail; a defendant is 'released on bail' or 'out on bail', and someone who disappears 'jumps bail'. Bail conditions may include living at a fixed address, reporting to a police station or wearing an electronic tag.
Examples
The judge granted bail on condition that he surrender his passport.
She is currently on bail and must report to the police every Monday.
Bail was set at fifty thousand dollars.
Usage note
In the UK, bail usually means release with conditions and rarely involves money; paying a large sum is typical of the US system.
Common phrases
grant bail · refuse bail · released on bail · bail conditions · jump bail
To tell the court formally that you admit committing the crime you are charged with; 'plead not guilty' means you deny it.
Where you use it
A key step in common law courts: the defendant pleads guilty or not guilty at an early hearing, and a guilty plea usually leads straight to sentencing, often with a reduction. Past forms: 'pleaded' (British and formal) or 'pled' (common in American English). The noun is 'plea'.
Examples
He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.
She intends to plead not guilty and go to trial.
Defendants who plead guilty early usually receive a shorter sentence.
Usage note
Use 'to' before the offence: 'plead guilty to theft', not 'plead guilty of theft'.
Common phrases
plead guilty to · plead not guilty · guilty plea · enter a plea · change a plea
A formal written accusation that a person has committed one or more serious crimes, which starts the case against them in a criminal court.
Where you use it
In the US, a 'grand jury' returns an indictment for serious federal crimes; in England and Wales the most serious cases are 'tried on indictment' in the Crown Court. Each separate charge in it is a 'count'. The verb is 'indict' ('he was indicted on fraud charges').
Examples
The indictment lists twelve counts of fraud.
Prosecutors are preparing an indictment against the company's former directors.
The court accepted the indictment, and the first hearing was set for May.
Usage note
The 'c' is silent: 'indictment' sounds like 'in-DITE-ment'. The same is true of the verb 'indict'.
Common phrases
prepare an indictment · return an indictment · be indicted on charges · counts in the indictment
To order that a defendant waiting for trial or sentence is kept in prison, or released under conditions, until the next court date.
Where you use it
Mainly British: 'remanded in custody' (kept in prison), 'remanded on bail' (released with conditions), 'on remand' (held in prison before trial). A 'remand prisoner' has not yet been convicted. American English prefers 'held without bail' or 'pretrial detention'.
Examples
He was remanded in custody until his trial in September.
She spent five months on remand before being acquitted.
The magistrates remanded both men on bail.
Usage note
In the US, 'remand' usually means that a higher court sends a case back to a lower court for further action.
Common phrases
remanded in custody · remanded on bail · on remand · remand prisoner
An agreement in which the defendant pleads guilty, often to a less serious charge, in return for a lighter sentence or the dropping of other charges.
Where you use it
Typical of the US, where most criminal cases end this way: 'accept a plea bargain', 'take a plea deal', 'negotiate a plea'. The process is 'plea bargaining'. England and Wales have no formal American-style system, but an early guilty plea earns a reduced sentence.
Examples
He accepted a plea bargain and admitted a lesser charge of theft.
Most cases in the US end in plea bargains rather than trials.
Critics say plea bargaining puts pressure on innocent defendants.
Common phrases
accept a plea bargain · plea deal · plea bargaining · negotiate a plea bargain · offer a plea bargain
To decide officially not to continue with a criminal case against someone, so that they no longer face the accusation.
Where you use it
Prosecutors drop charges, for example when there is not enough evidence or a key witness withdraws. News reports also say 'charges were dropped against him'. Victims sometimes say they want to 'drop the charges', but in most systems the final decision belongs to the prosecutor.
Examples
Prosecutors dropped the charges after the main witness changed her story.
All the charges against the three students were dropped.
She asked the police to drop the charges, but the case continued.
Common phrases
drop all charges · charges were dropped · drop the charges against · decide to drop the charges
Keeping a person accused of a crime in prison before and during their trial, when a court decides that releasing them would be too risky.
Where you use it
The standard term in American and international human rights texts: 'held in pretrial detention', 'length of pretrial detention', 'alternatives to pretrial detention'. Courts usually consider the risk of flight, of tampering with evidence and of reoffending. British English often says 'remand in custody'.
Examples
He spent fourteen months in pretrial detention before he was acquitted.
Human rights groups criticised the long periods of pretrial detention.
The court ordered pretrial detention because he had no fixed address.
Usage note
British texts often write 'pre-trial' with a hyphen; American texts usually write 'pretrial'.
Common phrases
held in pretrial detention · length of pretrial detention · alternatives to pretrial detention · order pretrial detention
The person who has been charged with a crime and is being tried in court; in a civil case, the person who is being sued.
Where you use it
Standard in court and in law reports: 'the defendant pleaded not guilty', 'the defendant's lawyer', 'co-defendant'. In news reports you also read 'the accused'. Judges address the defendant directly when they pass sentence.
Examples
The defendant denied being at the scene.
All three defendants were found guilty of robbery.
The judge asked the defendant to stand while the verdict was read.
Common phrases
the defendant pleaded · co-defendant · acquit the defendant · defendant's lawyer
The formal process in court in which evidence is presented and a judge or jury decides whether the defendant is guilty of the charges.
Where you use it
A defendant 'goes on trial', 'stands trial' or is 'awaiting trial'; a trial 'opens', 'is adjourned' or 'ends'. 'Trial' is the whole process; a 'hearing' is usually one session or a shorter procedure. People also speak of the right to 'a fair trial'.
Examples
The trial is expected to last three weeks.
Four men will stand trial for the robbery in March.
He spent eight months in custody awaiting trial.
Usage note
'Trial' also means a test (clinical trial, free trial). In a legal text it almost always means the court process.
Common phrases
stand trial · go on trial · awaiting trial · fair trial · trial date
The decision at the end of a trial on whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty, especially the decision of a jury.
Where you use it
A jury 'reaches', 'returns' or 'delivers' a verdict; the verdict can be 'guilty' or 'not guilty', 'unanimous' or 'majority'. In common law systems the verdict and the sentence are separate steps: first guilt is decided, then the judge decides the punishment.
Examples
The jury took six hours to reach a verdict.
There were tears in the courtroom when the verdict was read out.
His family say they will appeal against the verdict.
Usage note
'Verdict' is about guilt; the punishment is the 'sentence'. Do not say 'the verdict was five years in prison'.
Common phrases
reach a verdict · return a verdict · guilty verdict · unanimous verdict · majority verdict
Officially judged by a court to have committed a crime; the opposite verdict is 'not guilty'.
Where you use it
The key patterns are 'found guilty of' an offence, 'plead guilty' or 'plead not guilty', and 'a guilty verdict'. In court, the formal opposite is 'not guilty', not 'innocent'. Outside law, 'feel guilty' means feeling bad about something you did.
Examples
She was found guilty of fraud and will be sentenced next month.
The jury found both men not guilty.
Until a court decides, nobody can be treated as guilty.
Usage note
Use 'of', not 'for': 'guilty of theft'.
Common phrases
found guilty of · plead guilty · not guilty · guilty verdict · guilty of murder
To decide officially in court that someone is guilty of a crime; as a noun, a convict is a person who has been found guilty and is usually in prison.
Where you use it
Mostly passive: 'He was convicted of murder'. Juries and courts convict; prosecutors 'secure' or 'obtain' a conviction. A 'convicted criminal' has been found guilty; the noun 'convict' is a slightly old-fashioned or journalistic word for a prisoner.
Examples
He was convicted of drink-driving three years ago.
Without the CCTV footage, the jury might not have convicted her.
Two escaped convicts were caught near the border.
Usage note
The stress moves: the verb is conVICT, the noun is CONvict. The preposition is 'of': 'convicted of fraud'.
Common phrases
convicted of · wrongly convicted · convicted criminal · convict someone of
To decide officially in court that a person is not guilty of the crime they were charged with.
Where you use it
Usually passive: 'She was acquitted of all charges'. The noun is 'acquittal'. Journalists also write 'cleared of'. An acquittal normally ends the case, although in some systems the prosecution can appeal against it.
Examples
The driver was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving.
After his acquittal, he thanked his lawyers outside the court.
The jury acquitted her because the evidence was too weak.
Usage note
Spelling: 'acquitted', 'acquitting' and 'acquittal' double the t. The preposition is 'of', not 'from'.
Common phrases
acquitted of · acquitted on all counts · win an acquittal · be acquitted
An official decision by a court that someone is guilty of a crime; also a past crime recorded against a person.
Where you use it
Prosecutors 'secure' a conviction, defendants 'appeal against' a conviction and higher courts can 'overturn' or 'quash' it. 'Previous convictions' are earlier crimes on someone's record and are often mentioned at sentencing.
Examples
Her conviction was overturned on appeal.
He has three previous convictions for theft.
The conviction rate for this offence is very low.
Usage note
Outside law, 'conviction' means a strong belief: 'She spoke with conviction.'
Common phrases
secure a conviction · previous convictions · overturn a conviction · wrongful conviction · conviction rate
A group of ordinary citizens, usually twelve in serious criminal cases, who listen to the evidence at a trial and decide whether the defendant is guilty.
Where you use it
Central to trials in England and Wales and the US: 'the jury retired to consider its verdict', 'jury service', 'trial by jury'. Each member is a 'juror'. The judge decides questions of law and the sentence; the jury decides the facts and guilt.
Examples
The jury found him guilty by a majority of ten to two.
Members of the jury, you must decide this case only on the evidence.
She was called for jury service last spring.
Usage note
'Jury' is a group noun: British English often uses a plural verb ('the jury are'), American English a singular one ('the jury is').
Common phrases
trial by jury · jury service · jury verdict · the jury retired · hung jury
The basic principle that every person accused of a crime must be treated as innocent until the prosecution proves their guilt in court.
Where you use it
Found in constitutions, human rights texts and judges' directions to juries. Everyday English says 'innocent until proven guilty'. The principle also protects suspects from being presented as guilty by officials or the media before a verdict.
Examples
The police chief's comments were criticised as a breach of the presumption of innocence.
The presumption of innocence means the defendant does not have to prove anything.
Common phrases
respect the presumption of innocence · breach of the presumption of innocence · innocent until proven guilty · right to the presumption of innocence
The standard of proof in criminal cases: the evidence must be so strong that no reasonable person would doubt the defendant's guilt.
Where you use it
Judges tell juries that the prosecution must prove its case 'beyond reasonable doubt' (British) or 'beyond a reasonable doubt' (American). Courts in England and Wales now often explain it as being 'sure' of guilt. It is much higher than the civil standard, 'on the balance of probabilities'.
Examples
The prosecution must prove every element of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
The jury was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, so it acquitted him.
Common phrases
prove beyond reasonable doubt · beyond a reasonable doubt · standard of proof · reasonable doubt
The duty to prove that a claim is true; in criminal cases it lies on the prosecution, not on the defendant.
Where you use it
Lawyers say the burden of proof 'lies with', 'rests on' or 'is on' the prosecution, and that it can 'shift' to the defendant only in rare cases set by law. It is closely linked to the 'standard of proof', which says how strong the proof must be.
Examples
The burden of proof is on the prosecution from start to finish.
The defendant does not have to prove his innocence; the burden of proof lies with the Crown.
Common phrases
the burden of proof lies with · discharge the burden of proof · shift the burden of proof · standard of proof
A lawyer who works for the state and brings criminal cases to court, trying to prove that the defendant is guilty.
Where you use it
Common in news and court reports: 'prosecutors say', 'the prosecutor told the court', 'public prosecutor'. In England and Wales prosecutors work for the Crown Prosecution Service; in the US they include district attorneys and federal prosecutors. In court, the prosecutor's side is 'the prosecution'.
Examples
The prosecutor asked the court to keep the suspect in custody.
Prosecutors say the money was moved through five different accounts.
She worked as a prosecutor before becoming a judge.
Common phrases
public prosecutor · chief prosecutor · federal prosecutor · prosecutors allege
A lawyer who represents a suspect or defendant, protects their rights and argues their side of the case against the prosecution.
Where you use it
British English says 'defence lawyer', 'defence solicitor' or 'defence barrister'; American English says 'defense attorney' or 'defense lawyer'. A suspect can ask for a defence lawyer at the police station, and in court the defence lawyer cross-examines prosecution witnesses.
Examples
Her defence lawyer argued that the police search was unlawful.
He refused to answer questions until his defence lawyer arrived.
The defense lawyer asked the jury to look carefully at the timeline.
Common phrases
the defence lawyer argued · instruct a defence lawyer · experienced defence lawyer · defense attorney
The process of bringing a criminal case against someone in court; 'the prosecution' also means the lawyers who present the case against the defendant.
Where you use it
Two meanings: the process ('face prosecution', 'bring a prosecution') and the side in court ('the prosecution argued that...'), which is the opposite of 'the defence'. 'Prosecution witnesses' are called by the prosecution. The verb is 'prosecute'.
Examples
The prosecution says the defendant planned the attack for weeks.
Shops that sell alcohol to children may face prosecution.
The prosecution called its first witness on Tuesday.
Common phrases
the prosecution · face prosecution · prosecution witness · bring a prosecution · prosecution case
The side in a criminal trial that represents the defendant; also a legal reason that can free a defendant from liability, such as self-defence.
Where you use it
With 'the' for the side in court: 'the defence argued', 'a defence witness', 'defence counsel'. Without 'the' for a legal argument: 'raise a defence', 'a defence of duress', 'his only defence was that he did not know'.
Examples
The defence will present its case after the lunch break.
Her lawyer said the defence had not seen the new evidence.
Not knowing the rule is not usually a defence to this offence.
Usage note
The American spelling is 'defense'.
Common phrases
the defence · defence counsel · defence witness · raise a defence · defence case
In the US, a lawyer paid by the government to defend people who are charged with a crime and cannot afford to hire their own lawyer.
Where you use it
Mainly American: 'the public defender's office', 'be assigned a public defender', 'a public defender represented him'. Public defenders often handle very large numbers of cases. In England and Wales the same need is usually met through legal aid and 'duty solicitors'.
Examples
She could not afford a lawyer, so the court appointed a public defender.
Many public defenders handle more than a hundred cases at once.
Common phrases
public defender's office · assigned a public defender · appoint a public defender · work as a public defender
Money or free legal services provided by the state to help people who cannot afford a lawyer, especially when they face criminal charges.
Where you use it
Common in the UK and many other countries: 'apply for legal aid', 'be granted legal aid', 'legal aid lawyer', 'cuts to legal aid'. Access often depends on a 'means test' (checking income) and on how serious the case is.
Examples
He was granted legal aid because he was unemployed.
Fewer firms now take legal aid cases because the fees are low.
Common phrases
apply for legal aid · granted legal aid · legal aid lawyer · cuts to legal aid · criminal legal aid
District attorney: in the US, the chief public prosecutor of a county or district, who decides which criminal cases to bring to court.
Where you use it
Very common in American news and legal dramas: 'the DA's office', 'the DA decided not to file charges'. Lawyers who work under the DA are 'assistant district attorneys' (ADAs). In many states the DA is elected, and some states use other titles, such as 'state's attorney' or 'county prosecutor'.
Examples
The DA says there is enough evidence to go to trial.
She worked in the DA's office for six years before becoming a defense lawyer.
Common phrases
the DA's office · assistant DA · district attorney · elected DA
The punishment that a judge gives a person who has been found guilty; as a verb, to give someone a particular punishment.
Where you use it
Judges 'pass', 'impose' or 'hand down' a sentence; offenders 'receive' and 'serve' it. The verb pattern is 'sentence someone to': 'She was sentenced to three years'. Lawyers talk about 'a lenient sentence', 'a harsh sentence' and 'a custodial sentence' (prison).
Examples
The judge will pass sentence on Friday.
He was sentenced to four years in prison for robbery.
The victim's family said the sentence was too short.
Usage note
In grammar 'sentence' means 'cümle'; in a courtroom it means 'ceza'. The preposition is 'to': 'sentenced to five years'.
Common phrases
pass sentence · sentenced to · serve a sentence · prison sentence · lenient sentence
An amount of money that a court or authority orders someone to pay as a punishment for breaking the law.
Where you use it
Courts 'impose' a fine and people 'pay' it; the verb is 'be fined': 'He was fined £400'. Fines are the most common sentence for minor offences. A 'fixed penalty' is a set fine given without a court hearing, for example for speeding.
Examples
The company was fined fifty thousand pounds for breaking safety rules.
If you do not pay the fine, the amount may increase.
The court imposed a fine and added three points to his driving licence.
Common phrases
pay a fine · impose a fine · heavy fine · be fined · fixed penalty
The punishment of being kept in prison for a period of time; also the state of being in prison.
Where you use it
Formal and common in statutes and judgments: 'a term of imprisonment', 'sentenced to two years' imprisonment', 'punishable by imprisonment'. Everyday English often prefers 'prison sentence' or 'jail term'. Statutes state the 'maximum term of imprisonment' for each offence.
Examples
The offence is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment.
The judge said a term of imprisonment was unavoidable.
Long periods of imprisonment can make it harder to return to normal life.
Usage note
'False imprisonment' is not a wrong prison sentence; it is the crime or civil wrong of unlawfully keeping someone confined.
Common phrases
term of imprisonment · punishable by imprisonment · life imprisonment · false imprisonment
A prison sentence that the offender does not have to serve unless they commit another offence or break certain conditions during a set period.
Where you use it
Judges 'suspend' a sentence or 'give someone a suspended sentence': 'six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years'. If the offender reoffends, the court can 'activate' the original sentence. It is usually given for less serious offences.
Examples
He received a suspended sentence because it was his first offence.
The judge gave her an eight-month suspended sentence.
Breaking the conditions of a suspended sentence can lead to prison.
Common phrases
receive a suspended sentence · suspended for two years · activate a suspended sentence · suspended prison sentence
Unpaid work that an offender must do for the local community, such as cleaning parks or repairing buildings, as a punishment instead of prison.
Where you use it
Courts 'order' or 'sentence someone to' community service, for example '150 hours of community service'. In England and Wales the official term is 'unpaid work' as part of a 'community order'. It is mostly used for less serious offences and first-time offenders.
Examples
She was ordered to do 100 hours of community service.
Community service gives offenders a chance to repay society.
Usage note
Outside criminal law, 'community service' can also mean voluntary work, for example by students.
Common phrases
hours of community service · do community service · sentenced to community service · community order
The most severe prison sentence in many countries, given for very serious crimes such as murder; it does not always mean the person stays in prison until death.
Where you use it
Judges 'impose' a life sentence and offenders 'serve life' or 'get life'. In England and Wales the judge sets a 'minimum term' that must be served before the prisoner can be considered for parole. In the US the phrase 'life without parole' is common.
Examples
He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of twenty years.
Life sentences are reserved for the most serious offences.
Common phrases
serve a life sentence · life without parole · minimum term · get life · life imprisonment
To spend the period of punishment that a court has ordered, especially time in prison.
Where you use it
Common patterns: 'serve a five-year sentence', 'serve two years of a six-year sentence', 'serve the rest of the sentence in the community'. Informally people say 'serve time' or 'do time'.
Examples
She is serving a seven-year sentence for fraud.
Most prisoners serve only part of their sentence behind bars.
After serving his sentence, he found work as a mechanic.
Common phrases
serve a prison sentence · serve time · serve the rest of a sentence · serve a life sentence
Facts about an offence or offender that make the crime less serious or the offender less to blame, and so can lead to a lighter sentence.
Where you use it
After a conviction, defence lawyers present 'mitigation' or a 'plea in mitigation', pointing to factors such as a clean record, remorse, a guilty plea, youth or mental health problems. Judges balance mitigating circumstances against 'aggravating factors'.
Examples
The judge accepted that there were strong mitigating circumstances.
His lawyer argued that his illness was a mitigating circumstance.
Common phrases
strong mitigating circumstances · plea in mitigation · take mitigating circumstances into account · mitigating factors
A fact about a crime that makes it more serious and can lead to a longer or heavier sentence, such as using a weapon or targeting a vulnerable victim.
Where you use it
Judges list aggravating factors when they explain a sentence: 'previous convictions', 'planning', 'abuse of trust', 'offence committed on bail'. Some offences have aggravated forms with their own names, such as 'aggravated burglary' or 'aggravated assault'.
Examples
Using a weapon was treated as an aggravating factor.
The judge said the victim's age was a serious aggravating factor.
A secure building where people are kept as punishment after a conviction or while they wait for their trial.
Where you use it
Without an article for the institution's purpose: 'go to prison', 'in prison', 'released from prison'. With an article for the building: 'a high-security prison'. In American English a 'jail' is a local facility for short stays and people awaiting trial, while a 'prison' holds people serving longer sentences.
Examples
He spent ten years in prison before he was released.
If convicted, she could go to prison for up to seven years.
The new prison will hold 1,200 inmates.
Usage note
In British English 'jail' (spelled 'gaol' in older texts) is an informal synonym of 'prison'.
Common phrases
go to prison · in prison · released from prison · prison sentence · prison officer
An official list of the crimes a person has been convicted of, which employers or authorities may check in some situations.
Where you use it
People 'have' or 'do not have' a criminal record; 'a clean record' means no convictions. Employers in sensitive jobs carry out 'criminal record checks'. Some convictions are removed from the record or no longer need to be declared after a certain time.
Examples
Applicants for the job must not have a criminal record.
He had no criminal record before the incident.
A criminal record can make it harder to get a visa.
Common phrases
have a criminal record · clean record · criminal record check · previous convictions
A sentence or period in which an offender lives in the community instead of prison but must follow rules and meet regularly with a probation officer.
Where you use it
Offenders are 'put on probation' or 'sentenced to probation'; breaking the conditions is a 'probation violation' (US) or 'breach' (UK). A 'probation officer' supervises them. In the UK the Probation Service also supervises people released from prison.
Examples
Instead of prison, she was put on probation for two years.
He has to see his probation officer every two weeks.
Missing appointments can be treated as a breach of probation.
Usage note
At work, 'probation' or a 'probationary period' means the trial period of a new employee (deneme süresi). Only the context tells you which meaning is intended.
Common phrases
on probation · put on probation · probation officer · probation service · breach of probation
Early release of a prisoner before the end of the sentence, on condition that they obey certain rules; they can be sent back to prison if they do not.
Where you use it
Prisoners become 'eligible for parole', go before a 'parole board' and are 'released on parole'; if they break the rules, parole is 'revoked'. British official texts often call this 'release on licence'. Parole comes after prison, while probation usually replaces it.
Examples
He will be eligible for parole after serving fifteen years.
The parole board refused her application.
He was sent back to prison for breaking the terms of his parole.
Common phrases
eligible for parole · parole board · released on parole · parole hearing · violate parole
A person who is kept in a prison, whether they have been convicted or are waiting for trial.
Where you use it
Very common in American English and in reports about prison conditions: 'inmates', 'fellow inmates', 'inmate population'. British English more often says 'prisoner'. Officials talk about the 'welfare', 'rights' and 'transfer' of inmates.
Examples
The prison holds about 900 inmates.
Inmates can take courses in carpentry and cooking.
He shared a room with two other inmates.
Common phrases
fellow inmates · inmate population · release an inmate · former inmate
To commit another crime after being punished for an earlier one.
Where you use it
A key word in prison, probation and policy reports: 'reduce reoffending', 'the reoffending rate', 'likely to reoffend'. Judges and probation officers assess 'the risk of reoffending'. The more formal noun is 'recidivism', common in American and academic texts.
Examples
Education in prison helps reduce reoffending.
The report found that young men are the group most likely to reoffend.
If he reoffends, he will go back to prison.
Common phrases
reduce reoffending · reoffending rate · risk of reoffending · likely to reoffend
The process of helping an offender change their behaviour and return to a normal life without committing more crimes.
Where you use it
One of the main aims of punishment, together with deterrence and protecting the public. People talk about 'rehabilitation programmes', 'the rehabilitation of offenders' and 'a focus on rehabilitation'. Typical tools are education, job training and treatment for addiction.
Examples
The new prison was designed with rehabilitation in mind.
Critics say short sentences leave no time for rehabilitation.
Her rehabilitation included a drug treatment programme.
Usage note
The short form 'rehab' usually means treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, not prison programmes.
Common phrases
rehabilitation programme · rehabilitation of offenders · focus on rehabilitation · drug rehabilitation
A person who has been harmed, injured or killed as a result of a crime, or who has lost money or property because of it.
Where you use it
Used by police, courts, charities and the media: 'the victim of an attack', 'fraud victims', 'victim support'. Many systems give victims rights to information, to protection and to be heard. In some courts 'complainant' is used before the verdict, because the crime has not yet been proved.
Examples
The victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Many fraud victims are too embarrassed to report what happened.
The court must consider the effect of the crime on the victim.
Common phrases
victim of crime · fall victim to · victim support · fraud victim · victims' rights
To make a formal complaint against someone so that they can be charged with a crime; used mainly about victims.
Where you use it
Common in everyday and media English: 'Do you want to press charges?', 'she decided not to press charges'. Legally, the state brings charges, so the phrase describes the victim's decision to support a prosecution rather than the charge itself.
Examples
The shop owner said he would press charges against the boys.
She was too frightened to press charges at first.
The officer asked whether we wanted to press charges.
Common phrases
press charges against · decide to press charges · refuse to press charges · want to press charges
The person who reports a crime and says they were harmed by it, especially in court before it has been decided whether the crime took place.
Where you use it
Formal court language in the UK and other common law countries. Judges and lawyers use 'complainant' rather than 'victim' during the trial so as not to assume the defendant's guilt. In sexual offence cases the complainant's identity is usually protected.
Examples
The complainant gave evidence from behind a screen.
The defence lawyer suggested that the complainant had remembered the date wrongly.
The complainant does not wish to be named.
Common phrases
the complainant alleged · the complainant's evidence · protect the complainant · complainant's identity
A court order that forbids a person from contacting or going near someone else, usually to protect a victim of violence, threats or harassment.
Where you use it
Victims 'apply for' or 'get' a restraining order; courts 'issue' or 'grant' one, and the other person can be arrested for 'breaching' or 'violating' it. American English also says 'protective order', and family courts in England and Wales use 'non-molestation order'.
Examples
She got a restraining order against her former partner.
He was arrested for breaching the restraining order.
The restraining order bans him from coming within 200 metres of her home.
Common phrases
get a restraining order · issue a restraining order · breach a restraining order · apply for a restraining order
Money paid to a victim for injury, loss or suffering caused by a crime, either by the offender or through a state scheme.
Where you use it
Courts can make a 'compensation order' requiring the offender to pay the victim. Victims of violent crime can also 'claim compensation' from state schemes, such as the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in Britain. People 'seek', 'claim', 'receive' or 'are awarded' compensation.
Examples
The court ordered him to pay £800 in compensation to the victim.
Victims of violent crime can apply for compensation from the state.
She received compensation two years after the attack.
Common phrases
claim compensation · compensation order · be awarded compensation · pay compensation · compensation scheme
A written or spoken statement in which a victim explains how a crime has affected their life, which the court can consider before sentencing.
Where you use it
The American term; in England and Wales the official name is 'victim personal statement'. Victims or their families may 'read out' or 'submit' the statement in court. It describes physical, emotional and financial harm and does not usually recommend a specific sentence.
Examples
In her victim impact statement, she said she no longer felt safe at home.
The judge listened to three victim impact statements before passing sentence.
Common phrases
read a victim impact statement · submit a victim impact statement · victim personal statement
An approach that brings victims and offenders into contact, usually through a trained mediator, so that the offender understands the harm caused and tries to repair it.
Where you use it
Used in probation, youth justice and victim services: 'a restorative justice meeting', 'a restorative justice conference', 'take part in restorative justice'. Taking part is voluntary for victims. It can happen alongside a sentence or, for minor offences, instead of a prosecution.
Examples
Through restorative justice, the victim was able to ask the young man why he did it.
Research suggests restorative justice can reduce reoffending.
Common phrases
restorative justice meeting · restorative justice conference · take part in restorative justice · restorative approach
Ten questions from this glossary. Pick the right meaning for each term and see your score.
How to learn criminal law & justice vocabulary
Read real criminal justice texts every week: a court report in a quality newspaper, a short sentencing judgment or a police press release. Note the verbs that go with each term, such as charge someone with, remand in custody or pass sentence.
Learn the stages of a case in order: offence, report, investigation, arrest, charge, trial, verdict, sentence and appeal. Knowing where a word belongs in this chain makes it much easier to remember and use correctly.
Pay special attention to prepositions: arrested for, charged with, accused of, convicted of, acquitted of, sentenced to, plead guilty to. Turkish speakers often mix them up, and mistakes here are very noticeable in legal writing.
Watch out for false friends: arrest is not tutuklama, robbery is not simple hırsızlık, and probation in a criminal court has nothing to do with a trial period at work. Write the Turkish concept next to the English term in your notes.
Check whether a text is British or American before you reuse its vocabulary: offence or offense, defence or defense, remand or pretrial detention, Crown Prosecution Service or district attorney. Stay consistent in your own writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is 'arrest' the same as 'tutuklama'?
No. Arrest means the police take a person in because they suspect a crime; in Turkish this is yakalama or gözaltına alma. Tutuklama is a judge's decision to keep a suspect in detention until trial, which is called remand in custody in British English and pretrial detention in American and international texts. Mixing them up is one of the most common translation mistakes in this field.
What is the difference between a suspect, the accused and a defendant?
A suspect is someone the police believe may have committed a crime; nobody has formally charged them yet. Once charges are brought, the person becomes the accused and, in court, the defendant. Turkish criminal procedure makes a similar distinction: şüpheli during the investigation and sanık after the court accepts the indictment.
Does 'not guilty' mean the same as 'innocent'?
Not exactly. A not guilty verdict means the prosecution did not prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt; the court does not declare that the person is innocent. In everyday speech people say innocent, but judges and lawyers use not guilty and acquitted.
Is criminal law English different in the UK and the US?
The core ideas are shared, but spelling and vocabulary differ. British texts write offence and defence and talk about remand, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Crown Court. American texts write offense and defense and use felony, misdemeanor, district attorney and plea bargain far more often. Choose one style according to the documents you work with and keep it consistent.
How can I learn criminal law vocabulary effectively?
Follow a case in the news from the first report to the sentence. Court reports use exactly these terms in context, and reading about the same case over several weeks shows how the vocabulary changes from arrest to verdict. Add short judgments and official guides published by courts and prosecution services, and write your own five-sentence summaries of what you read.
