Criminal Law Vocabulary

noun a person or group of people who are charged with or on trial for a crime

verb past tense of accuse, meaning to charge someone with a crime or wrongdoing

• The accused will have the opportunity to present their defense in court.
• Did you hear about the accused in the news?
• I can't believe they accused me of stealing!
• His guilty conscience accused him in the dead of night.

noun a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged

• The defendant was granted acquittal after the jury found insufficient evidence to convict.
• They let him go free after the trial because they didn't have enough proof.
• They gave him the 'not guilty' verdict because they couldn't pin anything on him.
• Her acquittal from all charges felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders.

verb to declare someone not guilty of a criminal offense after a trial

adjective having been declared not guilty of a criminal offense

• The defendant was acquitted of all charges after a thorough trial.
• They let him go because they couldn't prove anything. He was acquitted.
• He got off scot-free, they acquitted him.
• Her conscience was finally acquitted of guilt after years of torment.

verb to call or bring someone before a court to answer a criminal charge

• The defendant will be arraigned in court tomorrow.
• They're arraigning him for that incident last week.
• They're gonna arraign him for that mess he got into.
• The public arraigned the politician for his dishonesty.

noun a written statement specifying the charges or claims in detail

preposition a small word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The defense attorney requested a bill of particulars to specify the exact charges against their client.
• The lawyer asked for more details in the bill of particulars so they could prepare a better defense.
• I need the lowdown on the bill of particulars before I can figure out what to do next.
• Having a bill of particulars in hand is like having a roadmap to navigate through the legal process.

noun A word used to name a person, place, thing, or idea. 'Charges' is a noun referring to the formal accusations made against someone in a legal context.

verb A word used to describe an action or state of being. In this case, 'bring' is the verb indicating the action of bringing charges.

• The prosecutor has decided to bring charges against the suspect for embezzlement.
• They finally decided to press charges against him for stealing from the company.
• They're gonna slap charges on him for that stunt he pulled.
• Her words were like a weapon, ready to bring charges against anyone who dared to challenge her.

noun the body of evidence or facts that prove a crime has been committed

• The prosecution must establish the corpus delicti before proceeding with the trial.
• They need to prove the corpus delicti first before anything else.
• Gotta show the corpus delicti to move forward with the case.
• Without the corpus delicti, the case is like a ship without a sail.

noun a person or group of people who provide legal representation and defense for someone accused of a crime

• The defense counsel presented a strong argument in favor of their client.
• The defense lawyer really knew how to defend their client in court.
• The defense attorney totally killed it in the courtroom.
• The defense counsel was like a shield protecting their client from harm.

verb to deceive or cheat someone for personal gain

• The businessman was found guilty of attempting to defraud investors with false financial statements.
• I can't believe he tried to defraud his own friends out of money like that.
• She was caught trying to pull a fast one and defraud the company.
• His actions seemed to defraud the very essence of trust and honesty in the organization.

noun A person who represents the government in criminal cases in a particular district or jurisdiction.

• The district attorney is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the government.
• The DA is the one who goes after the bad guys in court.
• The district attorney is like the legal enforcer in the courtroom.
• The district attorney is the legal guardian of justice in the community.

verb to clear from guilt or blame; to declare or prove someone is not guilty of wrongdoing

• The evidence presented in court helped to exculpate the defendant of all charges.
• The alibi provided by his friend exculpated him from the crime.
• The video footage exculpated him, proving he was innocent.
• Her apology did not exculpate her from the hurtful things she said.

adjective Resulting in failure or disaster

• The doctor informed the family that the patient's condition was fatal.
• The car crash was fatal, there were no survivors.
• That disease is no joke, it's fatal if not treated early.
• The fatal mistake in his business plan led to the company's downfall.

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate manner, time, place, or degree

• The chemicals in the cleaning solution can harmfully affect your skin if not used properly.
• Eating too much junk food can harmfully impact your health in the long run.
• Gossiping about others can harmfully damage your relationships with them.
• His harsh words harmfully pierced her heart, leaving a lasting emotional scar.

adjective contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law

• Engaging in illegal activities can result in severe consequences.
• You shouldn't do anything illegal if you want to stay out of trouble.
• Dude, selling those things is totally illegal!
• Breaking the rules like that is like playing with fire, it's just asking for trouble.

verb to accuse of or present proof of a crime or fault

• The evidence presented in court was not enough to incriminate the defendant.
• I don't think they can incriminate him with just that little bit of information.
• They're trying to pin the crime on him, but they won't be able to incriminate him.
• His actions seemed to incriminate him in the eyes of the public.

adjective describing something that is capable of being indicted or charged with a crime

• The suspect was charged with multiple indictable offenses.
• He's facing some serious indictable charges.
• They caught him red-handed with some indictable stuff.
• Her actions were morally indictable in nature.

noun a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime

• The grand jury handed down an indictment against the suspect.
• The suspect got hit with an indictment from the grand jury.
• The grand jury dropped an indictment on the suspect.
• The indictment served as a wake-up call for the suspect.

adjective able to be justified or defended; reasonable

adverb in a way that is able to be justified or defended; reasonably

• The decision to increase taxes was deemed justifiable by the government due to the economic situation.
• I think his actions were justifiable given the circumstances.
• I can see why she did that, it's totally justifiable.
• In the court of public opinion, his actions were justifiable based on the evidence presented.

noun the act or process of making or enacting laws

adjective related to the process of making laws

• Lawmaking is the process by which legislation is proposed, debated, and enacted by a governing body.
• Lawmaking can be a lengthy and complex process involving multiple stages of review and approval.
• Some people think lawmaking is just a bunch of politicians arguing and not getting anything done.
• In a way, lawmaking is like building a house - each piece of legislation is like a brick, slowly constructing the legal framework of society.

verb to wound or injure someone so severely that a part of their body is permanently damaged

• The criminal attempted to maim his victim by stabbing him with a knife.
• I heard that Tom got into a fight and tried to maim the other guy.
• Don't mess with him, he'll maim you without a second thought.
• The new policy could potentially maim our chances of success in the market.

noun a minor wrongdoing or offense

adjective relating to a minor wrongdoing or offense

• Committing a misdemeanor can result in a fine or even jail time.
• Don't worry too much about that parking ticket, it's just a misdemeanor.
• Getting caught shoplifting is definitely not worth the misdemeanor charge.
• His lie was just a misdemeanor compared to the felony of stealing.

noun the act of causing severe damage to a body part, especially by cutting or removing it

• The act of mutilation is considered a serious crime under the law.
• I heard that the poor dog suffered from mutilation by its previous owner.
• That movie was so bad, it felt like a visual mutilation of my eyes.
• Her self-esteem was deeply wounded, it felt like emotional mutilation.

adjective describing the state of being free of guilt or responsibility

• After a thorough investigation, the jury found the defendant not guilty of the charges.
• The cops arrested him but he was not guilty so they had to let him go.
• He totally got off the hook because he was not guilty of the crime.
• Her conscience was clear, she felt not guilty of any wrongdoing.

verb to make an emotional appeal; to make a formal statement in defense or support of a cause

• The defendant decided to plead not guilty in court.
• I heard that Sarah is going to plead with her parents to let her go to the concert.
• Don't plead ignorance with me, I know you were involved in the prank.
• The artist's work seemed to plead with the viewer to understand the pain and suffering depicted.

verb to plan or consider beforehand; to deliberate

adjective planned or considered beforehand; deliberate

• The prosecutor argued that the crime was premeditated and carefully planned.
• She had premeditated the surprise party for weeks before his birthday.
• I can't believe he premeditated that prank on his friend!
• His decision to quit his job seemed premeditated, as if he had been planning it for a while.

noun the party instituting a legal action in a court of law

• The prosecution presented strong evidence against the defendant in court.
• The prosecution is really going after that guy in the trial.
• The prosecution is gunning for a conviction in this case.
• The prosecution of corrupt officials is like a game of chess, with each move carefully planned out.

noun A person, typically a lawyer, who institutes legal proceedings against someone

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adjective None

adverb None

pronoun None

preposition None

conjunction None

interjection None

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• The prosecutor presented the evidence to the jury during the trial.
• The prosecutor grilled the witness on the stand.
• The prosecutor is really gunning for a conviction in this case.
• The prosecutor is like a bulldog, never letting go until justice is served.

verb to steal goods from a store while pretending to be a customer

• The security guard caught the individual attempting to shoplift from the department store.
• I heard that someone tried to shoplift from the mall yesterday.
• She got busted for trying to shoplift some clothes from the store.
• He always tries to shoplift credit for other people's ideas during meetings.

noun a thrust with a pointed weapon

verb to pierce or wound with a pointed weapon

• The suspect was arrested for attempted murder after allegedly trying to stab the victim.
• I heard that Sarah's ex-boyfriend tried to stab her last night!
• Don't mess with him, he'll stab you in the back without hesitation.
• His words felt like a stab in the heart, leaving her feeling hurt and betrayed.

noun A street fight is a physical altercation that takes place in a public area, such as a road or sidewalk.

• The police were called to break up a street fight that had broken out between two rival gangs.
• I heard there was a crazy street fight last night down by the park.
• Did you see that street fight go down? It was intense!
• The debate turned into a verbal street fight as both candidates fought to prove their point.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a prosecutor or the prosecution of a legal case

• The prosecutorial team presented strong evidence during the trial.
• The prosecutors really brought their A-game in court.
• The DA's office is on fire with their prosecutorial skills.
• Her prosecutorial style is like a well-oiled machine, always precise and effective.

noun a person who practices or studies law; attorney

verb to hire or consult with a lawyer in preparation for legal action or defense

• It is always advisable to lawyer up before signing any legal documents.
• Dude, you better lawyer up before you go talk to the cops.
• If you're in trouble, you gotta lawyer up, no questions asked.
• When facing a tough situation, sometimes you just need to lawyer up and defend yourself.

verb to deliver or announce a formal decision or judgment in a court of law

preposition a word that shows the relationship between 'bring' and 'verdict'

• The jury will convene to bring in a verdict after carefully considering all the evidence presented in court.
• The judge will soon bring in a verdict, so let's hope for the best!
• I heard the jury is about to bring in a verdict, fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
• After much deliberation, my heart finally brought in a verdict on the matter.

noun abbreviation for District Attorney, a public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses

• The D.A. is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the government.
• I heard the D.A. is tough on crime in this city.
• The D.A. is always trying to lock people up.
• The D.A. of our group is the one who always keeps us in line.

verb to accuse or blame someone for a crime or wrongdoing

• The evidence presented in court was not enough to inculpate the defendant.
• They tried to inculpate me in the crime, but I had an alibi.
• The police were trying to pin the blame on me, but they couldn't inculpate me.
• Her actions inadvertently inculpated her in the scandal, even though she had no direct involvement.

noun A type of law that is prohibited because it is deemed harmful, rather than inherently wrong

• Malum prohibitum refers to acts that are prohibited by law but are not inherently evil or morally wrong.
• Jaywalking is an example of a malum prohibitum offense.
• Nobody really cares about malum prohibitum stuff like jaywalking.
• In the grand scheme of things, malum prohibitum violations are minor infractions.

noun the act of seizing control of an aircraft by force

verb to seize control of an aircraft by force

• The act of skyjacking is a serious offense that can result in severe legal consequences.
• Skyjacking is when someone takes control of an aircraft by force.
• Skyjacking is like the ultimate hijacking in the sky.
• In a metaphorical sense, skyjacking can refer to taking control of a situation or conversation in a forceful manner.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

• The police are investigating a recent hot prowl burglary in the neighborhood.
• Did you hear about the hot prowl burglary that happened last night?
• That hot prowl burglary was so sketchy, man.
• The hot prowl burglary left a trail of fear and unease in its wake.

verb to encourage or support someone in doing something wrong or illegal

• The company's CEO abetted in the embezzlement scheme.
• She abetted her friend in cheating on the test.
• He abetted in the prank by distracting the teacher.
• His silence abetted the spread of rumors about the incident.

adjective serving to absolve or acquit; exculpatory

• The judge delivered an absolvitory verdict, clearing the defendant of all charges.
• The court's decision was absolvitory, so the defendant walked free.
• The defendant got off scot-free thanks to the absolvitory ruling.
• Her absolvitory attitude towards his mistakes helped mend their relationship.

noun a legal declaration of innocence or a formal release from guilt or punishment

• The jury's acquitment of the defendant was based on lack of evidence.
• The guy got off the hook thanks to his acquitment.
• He walked free after the acquitment, lucky guy.
• Her acquitment from the situation felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders.

verb to declare someone not guilty of a criminal charge

• The jury deliberated carefully before acquitting the defendant of all charges.
• I can't believe they're acquitting him, he clearly committed the crime!
• They're totally acquitting him, it's so unfair!
• Her conscience was finally acquitting her of the guilt she had been carrying for years.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

• The judge adjourned summons for further investigation.
• The court put off the summons for more time to gather evidence.
• The judge delayed the summons for more digging.
• The legal team pressed pause on the summons to gather more ammunition.

verb to frighten or cause fear in someone; to be afraid or scared

• The crowd was affrayed by the sudden loud noise.
• I was affrayed when I heard a strange noise in the middle of the night.
• She was affrayed when she saw a spider crawling towards her.
• His heart affrayed at the thought of facing his fears.