Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

CRIME

commit verb (-tt-) CRIME

1.

[T] to do something illegal or something that is considered wrong

He was sent to prison for a crime that he didn't commit.
to commit adultery/murder
to commit an offence

community service noun [U ]

work that people do to help other people without payment, and which young criminals whose crime
was not serious enough for them to be put in prison are sometimes ordered to do

convict verb [T usually passive ]

to decide officially in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime
He has twice been convicted of robbery/arson.

convict noun [C ]
someone who is in prison because they are guilty of a crime
an escaped convict

criminal noun [C ]
someone who commits a crime
a dangerous/violent criminal

deter verb [T ] (-rr-)

to prevent from doing something or to make someone less enthusiastic about doing something by
making it difficult for them to do it or by threatening bad results if they do it
These measures are designed to deter an enemy attack.
High prices are deterring many young people from buying houses.

fine noun [C ]
an amount of money that has to be paid as a punishment for not obeying a rule or law
The maximum penalty for the offence is a $1000 fine.
If found guilty, he faces six months in jail and a heavy (= severe) fine.

guilt noun [U ] FEELING

1.

a feeling of worry or unhappiness that you have because you have done something wrong, such
as causing harm to another person
He suffered such feelings of guilt over leaving his children.
She remembered with a pang of guilt that she hadn't called her mother.

guilt noun [U ] RESPONSIBILITY

2.

the fact of having done something wrong or committed a crime

Both suspects admitted their guilt to the police.
The prosecution's task in a case is to establish a person's guilt beyond any reasonable doubt.

imprisonment noun [C or U]
She was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

jury noun [C + sing/pl verb ]

1.

a group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to
decide whether a person is guilty or not guilty, or whether a claim has been proved
members of the jury
The jury has/have been unable to return a verdict (= reach a decision).
Police officers aren't usually allowed to be/sit/serve on a jury.
2. a group of people chosen to decide the winner of a competition

justice noun FAIRNESS

1.

[U] fairness in the way people are dealt with

There's no justice in the world when people can be made to suffer like that.
The winner has been disqualified for cheating, so justice has been done (= a fair situation has
been achieved).

justice noun LAW

2.

[U] the system of laws in a country which judges and punishes people
the justice system in this country consists of a series of law courts at different levels.
The police are doing all they can to bring those responsible for the bombing to justice.
They are victims of a miscarriage of justice (= when the law has been carried out wrongly).
He has been accused of obstructing the course of justice (= preventing the law being put into
action).

justice noun JUDGE

3.

[C] US a judge in a court of law

The President is expected to name a new Supreme Court justice within the next few days.
Justice Ben Overton
4. [C] UK used before the name of a judge in the High Court
Mr Justice Ellis

legislation noun [U ]
a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament
[+ to infinitive] The government has promised to introduce legislation to limit fuel emissions from
cars.

life imprisonment noun [U ] (INFORMAL life)

the punishment of being put in prison for a very long time without an arranged time for release or, in
the US, until death

offender noun [C ] LEGAL

a person who is guilty of a crime
first-time offenders
sex offenders
young offenders

prevention noun [U ]
when you stop something from happening or stop someone from doing something
crime prevention
The organization is committed to AIDS prevention and education.

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

probation noun [U ]
1. a period of time when a criminal must behave well and not commit any more crimes in order to
avoid being sent to prison
He was fined and given two years' probation.
The judge put him on probation for two years.
He served a year in prison and was then let out on probation.
2. a period of time at the start of a new job when you are watched and tested to see if you are
suitable for the job
a period of probation
3. US a period of time in which a student who has behaved badly must improve their work or
behaviour in order to stay in a school
Gene's on probation this semester.

punish verb [T ] CRIME

1.

to cause someone who has done something wrong or committed a crime to suffer, by hurting
them, forcing them to pay money, sending them to prison, etc
Those responsible for these crimes must be brought to court and punished.
He punished the class by giving them extra work.
The oil company was found guilty on ten counts of pollution, and was punished with a $250 million
fine.
2. to punish anyone who commits a particular crime
Drunken driving can be punished with a prison sentence.

rehabilitate verb [T ]
to return someone or something to a good or healthy condition, state or way of living
The prison service should try to rehabilitate prisoners so that they can lead normal lives when they
leave prison.
Physiotherapy is part of rehabilitating accident victims.
After 20 years in official disgrace, she's been rehabilitated (= given a positive public image again).

victim noun [C ]
1.

someone or something which has been hurt, damaged or killed or has suffered, either because of
the actions of someone or something else, or because of illness or chance
to provide financial aid to hurricane/flood, etc. victims
victims of crime
The children are the innocent/helpless victims of the fighting.
The new drug might help save the lives of cancer victims.
We appear to have been the victims of a cruel practical joke.
Our local hospital has become the latest victim of the cuts in government spending.
2. fall victim to sth
to be hurt, damaged or killed because of something or someone
In 1948, Gandhi fell victim to a member of a Hindu gang.
The company has fallen victim to increased competition.

Cambridge University Press 2008