Okuzeka
Criminal Law & Justice vocabulary · Trial & Verdict

Conviction

Meaning in criminal law & justice, with examples

/kənˈvɪkʃn/nounCore term

In criminal law & justice, conviction means: An official decision by a court that someone is guilty of a crime; also a past crime recorded against a person.

In Turkish: mahkumiyet, mahkumiyet kararı, sabıka (önceki mahkumiyetler)

How it is used

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.

Example sentences

  1. Her conviction was overturned on appeal.

  2. He has three previous convictions for theft.

  3. The conviction rate for this offence is very low.

Common collocations

  • secure a conviction
  • previous convictions
  • overturn a conviction
  • wrongful conviction
  • conviction rate
  • convictTo 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.
  • criminal recordAn official list of the crimes a person has been convicted of, which employers or authorities may check in some situations.
  • acquitTo decide officially in court that a person is not guilty of the crime they were charged with.
  • verdictThe decision at the end of a trial on whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty, especially the decision of a jury.

More terms: Trial & Verdict

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.