Don't Do the Crime, If You Can't Do the Time!: English Vocabulary List

the official in charge of a prison or correctional facility, responsible for overseeing the administration, security, and well-being of inmates

"The warden managed the prison with a very strict set of rules."

"The warden announced new rehabilitation programs designed to help inmates prepare for life after release."

an individual or group of individuals who take the law into their own hands, acting outside the legal system to enforce their version of justice or address perceived wrongs

"The vigilante took the law into his own hands to fight crime."

"A vigilante is a person who undertakes law enforcement without legal authority"

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."

proof that indicates a person was somewhere other than the place where a crime took place and therefore could not have committed it

"He had a strong alibi because he was at work all day."

"The suspect claimed a strong alibi because he was at a family dinner with twenty relatives who could confirm he was nowhere near the crime scene."

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 sell or distribute illicit products, such as drugs, alcohol, or counterfeit goods

"They bootleg movies and sell them cheaply."

"The man was caught trying to bootleg copies of popular movies and sell them online."

the killing of a criminal as punishment

"Some countries still use capital punishment."

"Capital punishment remains a deeply controversial practice"

the act of stealing something from someone or somewhere

"The town was plagued by thievery."

"Petty thievery is a common problem in crowded tourist areas every summer."

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."

a nonforced sexual intercourse with a person under the age of consent

"Statutory rape case."

"The court heard a serious statutory rape case involving a minor last month."

the practice of isolating a prisoner in a small, often windowless cell, with minimal human contact or environmental stimulation, as a form of punishment or for security reasons

"He spent weeks in solitary confinement in a tiny dark cell."

"The prisoner was placed in solitary confinement for thirty days as punishment for attacking a guard and fighting with other inmates."

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."

‌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."

the act of participating in a crime or wrongdoing along with another person or group

"His complicity in the crime was proven."

"The police suspected his complicity in the robbery because his alibi was full of contradictions and lies."

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."

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 secretly steal money entrusted to one's care, typically by manipulating financial records, for personal use or gain

"The accountant embezzled company funds."

"The trusted accountant managed to embezzle millions of dollars from the company before anyone noticed that the money was missing."

(law) a practice in which government officials persuade someone to commit a crime that one would not have done by choice

"The defense argued entrapment."

"The lawyer claimed police entrapment was used to catch his client unfairly."

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 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."

the criminal act of making a copy of a document, money, etc. to do something illegal

"He committed forgery."

"The bank teller immediately recognized the signature on the check as a clear case of forgery."

a temporary release of a convict from prison

"He got a furlough."

"The prisoner was granted a temporary furlough to attend his mother's funeral under strict supervision."

to manipulate someone into questioning their own perceptions, memories, or sanity, often by denying or distorting the truth

"Do not gaslight your partner ever."

"He tried to gaslight his partner by denying things that had clearly happened and making her doubt her own memory."

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."

the act of stealing a property that exceeds a certain value lawfully which is considered a serious crime

"Charged grand larceny."

"He was charged with grand larceny after stealing valuable paintings from the museum."

a device for beheading, featuring a tall frame with a suspended blade released to swiftly sever the condemned person's head

"The guillotine was used during the French Revolution for executions."

"The French revolutionaries used the guillotine to execute the king and thousands of other people during the Reign of Terror in the 1790s."

to confine someone in prison or a similar facility due to legal reasons or as a form of punishment

"The judge will incarcerate the dangerous criminal."

"The judge decided to incarcerate the repeat offender for ten years without the possibility of parole."

to provide evidence or information that suggests a person's involvement in a crime or wrongdoing

"The evidence incriminated the suspect."

"The suspect refused to answer any questions that might incriminate him in the robbery case."

one that secretly provides information about something or someone for the police or investigators

"The informant gave evidence to the police."

"The police informant provided important information that helped solve the case quickly."

a person who breaks into someone else's property; often with a criminal intention

"The alarm scared away the intruder."

"Security guards caught an intruder trying to enter the building last night."

to take someone away and hold them in captivity, typically to demand something for their release

"The criminals planned to kidnap the child."

"The criminal planned to kidnap the wealthy businessman's daughter and demand a large ransom for her safe return."

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 photographic portrait taken by law enforcement agencies of a person who has been arrested, typically taken at the time of booking and used for identification purposes

"The suspect's mugshot was released to the press."

"The police took a mugshot of the suspect after the arrest yesterday."

the act of betraying one's country by rebelling against its government

"In wartime treason is punishable by death."

"Helping the enemy during a conflict is widely considered an act of treason against your country."

the use of elements from one culture by another, often without permission

"Cultural appropriation is debated."

"The artist's appropriation of indigenous symbols sparked a debate about cultural respect and ownership."

the intentional and unlawful physical contact or harm inflicted on another person

"He was charged with assault and battery after the fight."

"Battery is the intentional and unlawful physical contact or use of force against another person without their consent"

to follow, watch, or pursue someone persistently and often secretly, causing them fear or discomfort

"He began to stalk her."

"The police warned the individual to cease any attempts to stalk the victim, as it was causing significant distress."

a false statement damaging a person's reputation

"The actor sued the magazine for defamation."

"He filed a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper that published false stories about him."

to convince or make someone do something

"Hustle him to go."

"The salesman tried to hustle the customer into buying the more expensive model."

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."