Crime and Punishment: English Vocabulary List

to violently attack someone

"He will assault the guard."

"The man was arrested for trying to assault his neighbor with a dangerous weapon during a heated argument."

to persuade someone to do something, often illegal, by giving them an amount of money or something of value

"Do not bribe government officials."

"It is illegal to bribe a government official in exchange for preferential treatment or confidential information."

to intentionally damage something, particularly public property

"Teens vandalized the park benches."

"The teenagers were arrested for trying to vandalize the school building by spray painting graffiti on the walls late at night."

to take something for one's own use, especially illegally or without the owner's permission

"He will appropriate money."

"The corrupt official was accused of attempting to appropriate public funds for his personal gain."

goods or items whose importation, exportation, or possession is prohibited by law

"The customs officers seized the contraband."

"The police seized a large amount of contraband at the border last week."

to move goods or people illegally and secretly into or out of a country

"He tried to smuggle drugs across the border."

"The criminal tried to smuggle illegal drugs across the border by hiding them inside a secret compartment in his car."

to gain money, property, or some advantage by threatening someone

"The criminal tried to blackmail him."

"The criminal tried to blackmail the wealthy businessman by threatening to release embarrassing personal photos unless he paid a large amount of money."

to illegally take someone away, especially by force or deception

"Kidnappers abducted the wealthy businessman."

"The police launched a massive search when they discovered that someone had tried to abduct a young child from the playground."

to use deceit in order to deprive someone of their money or other possessions

"He swindled investors out of millions."

"The fake investment advisor managed to swindle millions of dollars from trusting retired teachers."

‌to cooperate secretly or illegally for deceiving other people

"The executives colluded to fix prices."

"The two companies secretly colluded to fix prices and eliminate all competition in the market."

to make secret plans with other people to commit an illegal or destructive act

"The group conspired against the government."

"The two employees conspired to steal trade secrets from their employer and sell them to a rival company for a large profit."

to make false and adverse statements about someone for defamation

"It is illegal to slander someone's reputation."

"It is illegal to slander someone's reputation by spreading false rumors that damage their good name."

the act of stealing funds that are placed in one's trust and belong to one's employer

"The accountant was arrested for embezzlement of company funds."

"Embezzlement is the fraudulent appropriation of property or money by a person entrusted with its custody"

to enter someone's land or building without permission

"Do not trespass on private property."

"The farmer posted signs warning hunters not to trespass on his private property."

the act of violently stealing a car while someone is inside it

"The carjacking took place in broad daylight."

"The carjacking incident happened in the city center last night and the police are investigating."

a minor crime or misdeed, especially of a young person

"Juvenile delinquency is a problem in many big cities today."

"The judge placed the teenager on probation for six months to address his delinquency and prevent him from committing more serious crimes."

someone who has committed or has been legally found guilty of a serious crime

"The felon was released after serving ten years."

"The convicted felon was sentenced to many years in prison last month."

someone who helps another to commit a crime or do a wrongdoing

"He was an accomplice too."

"The police arrested the driver of the getaway car as an accomplice to the robbery."

an action that is considered wrong or unacceptable yet not very serious

"Stealing a small item is a misdemeanor"

"Shoplifting a small item from a store is often charged as a misdemeanor rather than a felony because the value of the stolen goods is low."

a serious crime such as arson, murder, rape, etc.

"Murder is a very serious felony with a long prison sentence."

"Armed robbery is considered a felony in most legal systems and can result in a prison sentence of many years for convicted criminals."

the act of one person killing another, whether lawfully or unlawfully

"The police investigated the homicide."

"Justifiable homicide is a legal term for a killing that is deemed lawful and without criminal culpability"

a mass murder committed in order to destroy a particular nation, religious or ethnic group, or race

"Genocide is a terrible crime against humanity."

"The international community established laws to prevent genocide and punish those who commit such terrible crimes."

‌an act of violently stealing something valuable, especially from a shop or bank

"The heist was carefully planned."

"The daring heist involved stealing a famous painting from the museum in the middle of the night."

the act of stealing something from someone, especially without breaking into a building

"He committed larceny."

"He was charged with grand larceny after stealing expensive jewelry from the store."

the offense of telling lies in a court of law after you have vowed to tell the truth

"The witness was charged with perjury for lying in court."

"He was accused of committing perjury during the court trial last month."

someone who commits a series of murders in a similar pattern

"The serial killer was caught."

"The police finally caught the serial killer who had terrorized the city for over two years."

the act of suggesting that someone is guilty, particularly of a crime

"No incrimination here."

"The lawyer advised his client against making any statements that could lead to self-incrimination."

to send someone accused of a crime to the place where the crime happened or where they are wanted for legal matters

"The country extradited the fugitive criminal."

"The government agreed to extradite the captured terrorist to face justice in the country where he committed his crimes."

to officially hold someone in a place, such as a jail, and not let them go

"The police detained the suspicious man."

"The police had to detain the suspicious individual for questioning after they found him loitering near the bank late at night."

the act of putting or keeping someone in captivity

"Incarceration is being jailed."

"The lengthy period of incarceration for the convicted criminal was a consequence of his repeated offenses."

to force someone to live away from their native country, usually due to political reasons or as a punishment

"The king exiled his political enemies."

"The king decided to exile his political opponents to a remote island so that they could not cause any more trouble for him."

to officially take away something from someone, usually as punishment

"The state confiscated the assets."

"The teacher decided to confiscate the student's phone until the end of the school day."

to no longer be able to access a right, property, privilege, etc. as a result of violating a law or a punishment for doing something wrong

"He forfeited his right to appeal."

"If you do not pay your taxes you may forfeit your right to own property in this country."

to make some alterations in order to make something that has been obtained illegally, especially money and currency appear legal or acceptable

"They laundered money through fake businesses."

"The gang used a fake business to launder the illegal money they earned from selling drugs on the streets."

to cruelly or violently treat a person or an animal, especially regularly or repeatedly

"Don't abuse animals."

"It is a serious crime to abuse a child, and such actions will be met with severe legal consequences."

the action of keeping someone in a closed space, prison, etc., usually by force

"He was placed in solitary confinement."

"The prisoner was placed in solitary confinement for breaking prison rules last week."

to arrest someone

"Police will apprehend him."

"The officers managed to apprehend the suspect after a lengthy and dangerous pursuit through the city."

relating to the enforcement of rules or the correction of behavior

"The committee took disciplinary action."

"The committee took disciplinary action and suspended the employee for two weeks without pay."

to kill someone, especially as a legal penalty

"Execute the prisoner."

"The soldiers were ordered to execute the traitor immediately after the court martial found him guilty of betraying his country during the war."