IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA

THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME

PUNISHMENT and LAW
Crime is an illegal activity which is against the law and should be punished by
law. Crimes can be serious and minor

SERIOUS CRIMES

abduction = taking someone against their will (kidnapping)

arson = setting fire to a property
assault = a physical attack
burglary = illegal entry to a building with an intent to commit a crime
child abuse = maltreatment of a child
domestic abuse= negative behavior one exhibits over another within families
cyber crime= crime carried out online
drug trafficking = importing illegal drugs
false imprisonment = imprisoning a person against their will
fraud = deception for personal or financial gain
hacking = unauthorised access to data in a computer system
hijacking = illegally getting control of an aircraft or vehicle
human trafficking = illegally transporting people, usually for slave labour or
commercial sexual exploitation
murder (homicide USA)
premeditated murder = murder that is intentional (planned before hand)
unpremeditated murder/ manslaughter – murder that is not intentional (not
planned)
attempted murder = planning to kill another person
genocide = systematic killing of a race or religious group
organised crime = crime by an organised gang or organisation
smuggling = illegal import or export
terrorism = unlawful violence or threat with political aims
white collar crime = financially motivated non-violent crime by a worker
embezzlement = stealing money from the place where you work

MINOR CRIMES

pick pocketing = taking from another person’s pockets

shoplifting = taking products from a shop without paying for them
 IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
traffic offences =breaking the rules of the road and driving
drunk driving = driving whilst under the influence of alcohol
jay walking = crossing the road at an undesignated spot
running a red light = going through traffic lights when they are red
speeding = driving over the speed limit
vandalism = deliberate destruction or damage to a building
bullying = hurting and frightening someone and often forcing them to do
the things they do not want to do
harassment = illegal behavior towards a person that causes mental or
emotional suffering including repeated unwanted contacts, threats, touching,
offensive language. The most common version of harassment is sexual
harassment and the collocation used with this word is to be subjected to..

CRIMINALS

 crime = criminal/ offender/ delinquent/culprit

 murder = murderer
 theft = thief
 hijacking = hijacker
 terrorism = terrorist
 smuggling = smuggler
 shoplifting = shoplifter
 vandalism = vandal
 teenage criminal/ juvenile delinquent

TYPES OF PUNISHMENT

 the death penalty (capital punishment) = punishment of death

 a prison sentence (imprisonment) = imprisonment
 forfeiture = property is taken away (confiscated)
 a fine = to pay money as a punishment for an offence
 house arrest = imprisoned in one’s own house rather than in prison
 to revoke a license = to take away someone’s driving license
 non-custodial sentence = a sentence which is not done in prison
 community service/ social labor = punishment by doing community work
 IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
Punishment for school children
 detention = to stay in school after hours for punishment
 to give lines = punishment where a child must write the same sentence again
and again
 isolation = to be kept apart from others as a punishment
 grounding = to be unable to go outside home as a punishment
 scolding = an angry reprimand
 corporal punishment = physical punishment from a teacher or headteacher at
school

CATEGORIES OF CRIME

Personal Crimes These are crimes that result in physical or mental harm to
another person. Personal crimes include:
 Assault
 Battery
 False Imprisonment
 Kidnapping
 Homicide – crimes such as first and second degree, murder,
 and involuntary manslaughter, and vehicular homicide
 Rape, statutory rape, sexual assault and other offenses of a
 sexual nature

Property Crimes. These are crimes that do not necessarily involve harm to
another person. Instead, they involve an interference with another person’s right to
use or enjoy their property. Property crimes include:
 Larceny ( theft )
 Robbery (theft by force) – Note: this is also considered a
 personal crime since it results in physical and mental harm.
 Burglary ( penalties for burglary )
 Arson
 Embezzlement
 Forgery
 False pretenses
 Receipt of stolen goods.
 IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
COURT LANGUAGE

 judge = the person who controls the court proceedings

 jury = a group of independent people who decide whether the defendant is
guilty or not guilty
 justice = fairness or court law
 trial = legal proceedings to judge whether someone is guilty of a crime
 court = the place where the trial is held
 defendant = the accused person: the individual or group being accused in
court of a crime
 prosecutor = the lawyer against the accused person
 defense = the lawyer protecting the accused person
 witness = a person who sees an event happen
 evidence = facts or information supporting the truth
 proof = evidence supporting a claim
 guilty = not innocent as judged by a court of law
 to be found guilty = the court decided that the person did commit the crime
 conviction / verdict = formal sentence of a court
 circumstances of the crime = a condition or situation relating to a crime
 extenuating circumstances = a condition that makes the crime or mistake
less serious and more understandable
 maximum / minimum sentence = highest penalty / lowest penalty
 a harsh punishment = hard, strict penalty
 penalty / punishment are synonyms but penalty is often used for both minor
offences and major crimes.
 to investigate the crime= to examine a crime
 to take fingerprints
 to find evidence= to find proof
 to arrest the suspect = to take the person to the police station because police
believe that the person has committed a crime
 to pass= to adopt a law
IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW

COLLOCATIONS

To serve one’s/ a prison sentence = to carry out confinement in prison as a

punishment
Example: They are serving long prison sentences for their part in the
assassination.
To turn to crime/ drugs = to start committing crimes or using drugs.
Example: During periods of high youth unemployment, some youngsters
turn to crime to obtain money.
To be tough on crime= to punish crime severely
Example: The crime rate is likely to fall if governments take strong
measures to be tough on crime.
To be soft on crime= to impose strict punishments on offenders
Example: In order to deter criminals effectively, governments must not
follow policies which are soft on crime.
A policy of zero tolerance= a policy of applying laws very strictly, so that
every illegal action is punished, even if it is not very serious
Example: I would argue that the most effective way to reduce crime is to
implement a policy of zero tolerance.
To contest the verdict= not agree with the decision of the jury after the trial
of a case
Example: In many countries, the accused person has the right to contest the
verdict which was reached in the court.
To take into consideration= to consider, to think about a particular fact or
detail
Example: The previous criminal records of those who are found guilty must
be taken into consideration when a sentence is passed.
To reintegrate back into society/ community= to restore someone through
education or therapy
IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
Example: There is an increasing focus among policy-makers and
practitioners on identifying programs and strategies that will help prisoners
successfully reintegrate back into their communities without re- offending.
To embark on something= to start something new
Example: Young people sometimes embark on a life of crime as a result of
the bad influence of criminals whom they know.
To make a fresh start =to try something new after making mistakes in
one’s life
Examples: I believe that people should have the opportunity to make a fresh
start after they are released from prison.
To act as a deterrent= a measure which makes somebody less likely to do
something
Verb: to deter smb
Example: Longer prison sentences would act as a deterrent and would be
one useful measure to tackle rising crime.
Corporal punishment= to punish by physically harming the offender
Example: Many schools have abandoned the policy of corporal punishment
for children who misbehave and prefer to give extra work or detention after
school instead.
Drug trafficking= importing and selling illegal drugs
Example: Some people argue that legalising drugs would put an end to the
evil of drug trafficking and the violence associated with it.
Non-custodial sentence= a sentence which is not served in prison
Example: There is a wide range of non custodial sentences which a court
may give to offenders, including: fines, probation orders or community
service orders.
To plead/ to find guilty= the court decided that the person did commit the
crime. Syn: to be accused of/ to be blamed for
Example: If people are found guilty of committing serious offences, heavy
punishments should be imposed.
To impose a ban on sth= to enforce an official rule which says that
something is not allowed
IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
Example: Most governments have imposed a ban on the sale of tobacco to
those aged under 16.
To convict a criminal= to find an offender guilty and to punish them
Example: Once the courts have convicted a criminal, the punishment should
be severe.
Law-abiding citizens= people who obey and respect the law
Example: The government could take some effective steps to protect law-
abiding citizens.
To enforce the law= to make sure that the law is obeyed
Example: The role of the police and the courts is to enforce the law.
To install surveillance cameras= to put cameras in a place where a crime is
likely to be committed
Example: The security company has installed surveillance cameras at all the
entrances and exits of the shopping mall.
To put on probation= to make a convicted person see an official at regular
intervals to check on their good behavior, as an alternative to going to prison
Example: Sometimes first-time offenders are not imprisoned
but are put on probation for a set period of time to ensure
their good behaviour.
To punish wrongdoers = to punish people who do something illegal
Example: Stricter measures must be introduced by governments to punish
wrongdoers.
To arrest suspects= to stop and hold people who the police think may have
committed a crime
Syn: to put behind bars/ to send smb into prison
Example: The government should give the police greater powers to arrest
suspects.

Loss of freedom= be not free

Example: Loss of freedom is a punishment that offenders have to face when

they go to jail.
IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
White-collar crime= crimes committed by “office works”, for example,
fraud.

Example: More and more employees who work in a bank turn into crime as
white-collar crime.

Social isolation= the state of separating somebody from our society.

Example: The offenders have to serve the prison sentence as the social
isolation to remain safety of society.

Motive for crime= the reason why people commit crimes

Example: A desire for revenge on his wife is a motive for his crime as
murder.

To be imprisoned= go to a jail

Example: Being imprisoned is the best way to punish offenders for their
guilty.

To breed future offenders= influence people, especially young people, in

such a way that they later commit a crime.

Example: Parents should give more attention to their offspring in order to

avoid breeding future offenders.

Easy money= money that you get without working hard for it, especially
when you do illegal activities to get this money

Example: To make easy money, the bank robbery have stolen two billion
dollars from five international banks in this year.
IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
To break the law= do something illegal

Example: If a person breaks the law, he is certainly imprisoned.

Illegal activities: the illegal acts.

Example: It is alarming that more and more youngsters turn into illegal
activities.

Juvenile delinquency= antisocial behaviour committed by people under

eighteen years old.

Example: It is true that juvenile delinquency rate is increasing alarmingly,

which could jeopardise the social stability.

Soaring crime rates: crime rates rising very fast

Mimicking violent behavior= repeat violent behavior seen
Children are more likely to mimic violent behavior they have seen in their
family

Syn: crime is prevalent

Example: We are facing off soaring crime rates and it’s high time the
criminals were brought to justice.

Miscarriages of justice: Situation where innocent people are found guilty

Example: There have been a multitude of miscarriages of justice recently.

Release = set free

IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
Example: After being released some criminals recommit/reoffend

Rehabilitate = To return someone to a good, healthy,

or normal life or condition after they have been in prison, been very ill,
etc.

Example: The prison service should try to rehabilitate prisoners so that

they can lead normal lives when they leave prison.

Diminished responsibility= the condition in which

someone's mental state, etc. causes them not to be
in full control of their actions:

Example:The accused pleaded not guilty on grounds of diminished res

ponsibility.
 IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW

WORD PATTERNS

VERBS

Commit (a) crime: Most crime is committed by young men.

Carry out a crime: The boy admitted that he’d carried out the crime.

Fight/combat/tackle crime: There are a number of ways in which the public can
help the police to fight crime.

Turn to crime (=start committing crimes): Youngsters who are bored sometimes
turn to crime.

Solve a crime: It took ten years for the police to solve the crime

Report a crime: immediately telephoned the police to report the crime.

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + CRIME

Serious crime: Kidnapping is a very serious crime.

Violent crime/ Terrible/horrific crime : Figures show a 19% rise in violent crime.

Petty crime/ minor crime: Immigrants were blamed for the increase in petty crime.

Youth crime/ juvenile delinquency (=committed by children and teenagers): Police

blame gangs for a third of all juvenile crime in the city.

Alleged crime (=not proved to have happened): No evidence of the alleged crime

was presented.

Organized crime (=committed by large organizations of criminals): The growing

threats of terrorism and organized crime
 IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW

CRIME + NOUN

a crime wave (=a sudden increase in crime in an area) Larger cities have been the

worst hit by the crime wave.

a crime spree (=when one person commits a lot of crimes in a short time) He was

arrested after a two-day crime spree.

crime prevention The police can give you advice on crime prevention.

the crime rate The crime rate has gone up.

crime figures/statistics The new crime figures are not good.

a crime syndicate American English (=an organization of criminals) Women found

themselves trapped by crime syndicates into prostitution.

a crime writer (=someone who writes stories about crimes, especially murder)

PHRASES

Victim of crime: Victims of crime do not always report the offence.

The scene of the crime (also the crime scene): Detectives were already at the scene
of the crime.

To be tough on crime (=punish crime severely): Politicians want to appear tough

on crime.

To be soft on crime (=not punish crime severely enough): He accused the

government of being soft on crime.
 IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
Prison

 The role of the prison should be twofold; apart from protecting innocent
people from criminals, it should also rehabilitate former prisoners back
to the society in effective ways.
 Research shows that former prisoners almost always get back to prison.
Hence, it seems that the penal system is failing us.
 Instead of putting criminals in solitary confinement, the legal system
should be set up in such a way that it trains prisoners to learn a
trade and gain qualifications that will help them survive when they get out
of prison.
 Prisoners need help and support not only while they serve their sentence
but most importantly when they are released trying to lead a new life.
 For petty crimes, it is preferable to do community service instead of going to
prison.
 The cops believe they have both participated in an alleged crime and wish to
get one or both to give evidence.
 He called for making payment delinquency a felony crime in some cases.
 The agency also recently hosted a meeting of prefectural police to coordinate
investigations into crimes tied to the bad loans.
 Compared to most cities, Cedar Rapids has very little crime.
 The number of crimes reported in the New York City area has decreased
dramatically over the last ten years the growing problem of crime in the inner
cities
 Reynolds became involved in petty crime at a very young age.
 Not surprisingly, the police say that 50% of serious crimes are drug-related.
 Increasing the number of patrol cars on the street has not had any effect on the
level of serious crime.
 He was sentenced to 25 years in prison for rape and other sexual crimes
against women.
 The police would let him use their files because he usually brought back good
tips from the crime underworld.
 IELTS TRAINER AYTAN ISMAILZADA
THEMATIC VOCABULARY – CRIME
PUNISHMENT and LAW
 For everyone there is a problem in understanding the nature of the crime when
no motive can be identified.
 The demonstrators called on the governor to make solving the crime a
priority.
 Investigators believe that the crime was committed at around 7.30 p.m.
 In his past, however, there is an unsolved crime that continues to torment him.
 Violent crime increased by 11% last year.

E – crime

 People should be wary of cyber-criminals who hack into their

computers illegally on a global scale.
 Being online makes you instantly vulnerable that’s why you should
always take the right precautions to avoid falling victim to e-crime.
 It is advisable not to give away personal information online unless you
trust the source and it is important to invest in your security by installing
and updating security software.
 Dishonesty and deception are very common online and more often than not
what looks harmless on the surface may hide dangers that could ruin your
life.
 Keep your personal computer safe from infections that could spread
throughout your system.