Crime and law vocabulary appears constantly in the news, in exam essays, and in everyday conversation about current events. This guide covers real, practical vocabulary for types of crime, police work and the court system.
2. Types of Crime
Word
Meaning
theft
stealing something
burglary
illegally entering a building to steal
fraud
deceiving someone for financial or personal gain
assault
physically attacking someone
vandalism
deliberately damaging property
3. Police & Investigation
Word
Meaning
to arrest
to take someone into custody on suspicion of a crime
suspect
someone believed to have committed a crime
witness
someone who saw the crime happen
evidence
proof used to support or disprove an accusation
to investigate
to examine a crime to find out what happened
4. Courts & Trials
Word
Meaning
guilty / innocent
found responsible for the crime / not responsible
to press charges
to formally accuse someone of a crime
trial
the legal process of deciding guilt in court
jury
a group of citizens who decide the verdict
sentence
the punishment given by a judge
5. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
He was arrested for stole a car.
He was arrested for stealing a car.
After "for" describing a reason, use a gerund, not the past tense.
The police caught the thief who did the theft.
The police caught the thief who committed the theft.
Crimes are "committed," not "done," in standard English.
He is guilty of he stole the money.
He is guilty of stealing the money.
"Guilty of" is followed by a gerund, not a full clause.
6. Exercises
A. Gap Fill — Complete correctly (8 questions)
1. He was ___ for shoplifting. (arrested)
2. The ___ described the attacker to police. (witness)
3. The jury found him ___. (guilty)
4. The police are still ___ the case. (investigating)
5. She decided to ___ charges against him. (press)
6. The judge gave him a five-year ___. (sentence)
7. There wasn't enough ___ to convict him. (evidence)
8. Someone broke into our house, it was a ___. (burglary)
5. The punishment given by a judge is the... (a) sentence (b) trial
Show Answers (B)
1.a 2.a 3.a 4.a 5.a
C. Error Correction (3 questions)
1. He was arrested for stole a car.
2. The police caught the thief who did the theft.
3. He is guilty of he stole the money.
Show Answers (C)
1. He was arrested for stealing a car. 2. The police caught the thief who committed the theft. 3. He is guilty of stealing the money.
D. Freer Practice — Write Your Own Sentences (2 tasks)
1. Write a sentence summarising a news story about crime, using at least two vocabulary words from this page.
2. Write a sentence giving your opinion on how crime should be punished.
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "The suspect was arrested after a witness gave evidence to police." 2. "I think punishments should focus on rehabilitation, not just sentencing."
7. Mini Quiz
8. Exam Focus — Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How This Is Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge B2 First / C1 Advanced
Crime-related news stories often appear in Reading and Listening.
A news report about a court case in a Reading task.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Crime and punishment is a common essay topic.
"Should prison focus on punishment or rehabilitation? Discuss."
Trinity ISE II/III (SELT)
Crime may come up as a higher-level discussion topic tied to current events.
"What do you think about crime rates in your country?"
9. Frequently Asked Questions
They're largely interchangeable; "offence" is sometimes used for less serious crimes (a driving offence), while "crime" is the more general term.
"Guilty" means legally found to have committed the crime; "innocent" means not responsible for it, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
To be taken into police custody on suspicion of a crime, before any trial or conviction has taken place.
A witness saw the crime happen and can describe it; a suspect is someone the police believe may have committed the crime.
To formally accuse someone of a crime, officially starting the legal process against them.
Yes — crime is a common Reading and Listening topic, and a frequent IELTS Writing Task 2 essay theme.
Reading a vocabulary list takes you part of the way. Real fluency comes from using these words in conversation, with a tutor who corrects you immediately. Book a free level test with Elite Language Solutions and find out exactly where you are.