Crime

10 Criminology terms

Some definition which allows understanding the words used in the field of criminology.

Accused
noun
a person or group of people who are charged with or on trial for a crime
Example: I was accused of theft
fr: Accusé(e)
Bulletproof vest
noun (in this case) But it also could be used as verb
A ballistic vest or bullet-resistant vest often called a bulletproof vest is an item of body armor that helps to absorb the impact and reduce or stop penetration to the torso from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions
Example: when a police officer is on duty, he must equip himself with a bulletproof vest
fr: Veste pare-balle
Bulletproof vest
Criminal record
noun
a list of a person's previous criminal convictions
Example: The criminal record of an offender is always checked during a judgment in court.
fr: Casier ou dossier judiciaire
Domestic violence
noun
Domestic violence is often used as a synonym for intimate partner violence, which is committed by a spouse or partner in an intimate relationship against the other spouse or partner and can take place in heterosexual or same-sex relationships, or between former spouses or partners. The violence can be physical, verbal or psychological.
Example: The woman was arrested for domestic violence against her husband. She harassed him psychologically.
fr: Violence conjugale
Jail
could be used as a noun or a verb
noun: a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody verb: confinement in a jail
Example: Ms. Michaels was in jail because she had "done bad things" and were encouraged to keep her in jail by the police
fr: Prison
Jail
motive
could be a noun or an adjective
noun: a reason for doing something, most of the time something illegal adjective: causing or being the reason for something
Example: a motive for his murder
fr: un motif
offense
noun
a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act
Example: they have committed an offense at the law
fr: infraction
Pepper spray
noun
an aerosol spray containing oils derived from cayenne pepper, irritating to the eyes and respiratory passages and most of the time used by the law enforcement as a disabling weapon
Example: the officer felt threatened, so he used the pepper spray on him
fr: poivre de cayenne
Policeman using pepper spray
suspect
the word suspect could be a verb, a noun or an adjective
noun definition: a person thought to be guilty of a crime or offense adjective: not to be relied on or trusted; possibly dangerous verb definition: have an idea or impression of the existence, presence, or truth of (something) without certain proof
Example: we saw a man at the park watching the kids, he looks really suspect
fr: suspect
a video of a suspect profile
warrant
it could be a noun or a verb
noun definition: a document issued by a legal or government official authorizing the police or some other body to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out some other action relating to the administration of justice. verb: justify or necessitate a certain course of action
Example: Between 40-50% of the black male population between the ages of 18 and 15 is at any given moment either in prison, on probation, parole or there is a warrant out for their arrest.
fr: un mandat
warrant's picture