20 Criminology, study of crime and justice system terms
This glossary is for my criminology class. I made it to help me understand important words we use when talking about crime, criminals, and the justice system.
Alibi
noun
A claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, especially a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place.
Example: But Marie is quickly ticked off the list of suspects, when her ALIBI proves convincing to the police.
fr: Alibi
Arrest
noun
Seize (someone) by legal authority and take into custody.
Example: In Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland 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: Arrêter
Assault
noun
Make a physical attack on.
Example: Section 39, section 40 (3) Criminal Justice Act 1988 Section 47, Offences Against the Person Act 1861 The unlawful act can be identified as common ASSAULT, entailing technical ASSAULT and battery. Felicity deliberately punched Delia, fulfilling the mens rea for ASSAULT which necessitates recklessness or intention.
fr: Agression
Confession
noun
A formal statement admitting that one is guilty of a crime.
Example: Every act was considered in relation to sex and whether it was worthy of CONFESSION; sex became a secret to be uncovered.
fr: Confession
Crime
noun
An action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law.
Example: Guilt commonly follows CRIME or sin and the level of justice in the given punishment must be assessed.
fr: Crime
Crime scene
noun
The place where an offense has been committed and forensic evidence may be gathered.
Example: He established that without a sample from the CRIME SCENE a match could not be made.
fr: Scène de crime
Criminal justice
noun
The system of government institutions, policies, and practices designed to maintain social order, enforce laws, and administer justice.
Example: It was obvious that this mechanism of trial and punishment, immunising some whilst sentencing others, could not serve as a legitimate system of international CRIMINAL JUSTICE in the long run.
fr: Justice pénale
DNA profiling
noun
A molecular biology technique used to identify individuals or organisms by analyzing unique, highly variable patterns in their DNA.
Example: Application of DNA Fingerprinting DNA PROFILING has many applications, in forensic science to identify suspects, to establish relationships in kinship and in human IVF treatment 12 .
fr: Profilage ADN
Evidence
noun
The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
Example: Still it is not acceptable in the legal framework of the SPS to simply affirm that a given precautionary measure needs to be taken just "in case" when there is not enough scientific EVIDENCE to be 100% sure of the potential negative consequence of remaining passive.
fr: Preuve
Fingerprint
noun
An impression or mark made on a surface by a person's fingertip, especially as used for identifying individuals from the unique pattern of whorls and lines.
Example: Figure 4 : Flow Chart to view a DNA FINGERPRINT The techniques described above, are the methods that are required to generate a DNA FINGERPRINT - consisting of a pattern of bands, once this is obtained the FINGERPRINT can then be analysed.
fr: Empreinte digitale
Forensics
noun
Scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime.
Example: Despite the fact that the murderer must have walked up the drive with a dead body, there are no witnesses, which leads the police to rely on FORENSICS, and other evidence gathered.
fr: Médecine légale
Interrogation
noun
The action of interrogating or the process of being interrogated.
Example: The legislation has also been successful in encouraging more suspects to answer questions during INTERROGATION, although the increased information given to the police has not resulted in a rise in the percentage of suspects charged.
fr: Interrogatoire
Investigation
noun
The action of investigating something or someone; formal or systematic examination or research.
Example: It thought me the importance of spending enough time on site doing a thorough measurement and INVESTIGATION, as mistakes at this early stage could not be apparent straight way and are likely to surface much later in the project.
fr: Enquête
Motive
noun
A reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious.
Example: Thus it is vital for employee to understand the value of a loyal, life long customer and treat every customer as individual and unique with an appropriate MOTIVE.
fr: Motif
Offender
noun
A person who commits an illegal act.
Example: Using incapacitation as a punishment prevents any further crimes that could have been committed by OFFENDER, even if such harm is only slight, remote and infrequent.
fr: Délinquant
Prosecution
noun
The institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge.
Example: This limit is also reflected in the specimen direction, which states that the "PROSECUTION's case against [the suspect must be]
so strong that it clearly calls for an answer ".
fr: Poursuite
Sentencing
verb
Declare the punishment decided for (an offender).
Example: Turning to the issue of SENTENCING, the difference between crimes committed by boys compared to girls is again extremely relevant.
fr: Sentencing
Suspect
noun
A person thought to be guilty of a crime or offense.
Example: A DNA fingerprint maybe used to identify a SUSPECT for conviction, to exclude a SUSPECT 8 or to identify a victim.
fr: Suspect
Trial
noun
A formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings.
Example: It is Euripides' way of saying that the system of fair TRIAL where the accused made a speech to acquit themselves is actually not going to work, as the jury, as Odysseus has, may have already made up their minds.
fr: Procès
Victim
noun
A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.
Example: "In terms of its affective impact on the VICTIM's sense of closure and well-being, and on the offender's self esteem and acceptance of responsibility", there is evidence that restorative justice has a positive effect.
