4.3 Crime and Law
1. Topic-Specific Crime & Law Vocabulary
Types of Crime:
- Petty crime (n.) – Minor crime (e.g., shoplifting)
Example: “Petty crimes are common in crowded tourist areas.” - White-collar crime (n.) – Financially motivated, non-violent crime
Example: “Fraud is a type of white-collar crime.” - Cybercrime (n.) – Crime using computers/internet
Example: “Cybercrime is increasing with more people working online.” - Organized crime (n.) – Coordinated criminal activity (e.g., drug trafficking)
Example: “The police cracked down on organized crime in the city.” - Violent crime (n.) – Crime involving physical harm
Example: “Violent crime rates have dropped in recent years.”
Law & Justice Terms:
- Law enforcement (n.) – Police and legal authorities
Example: “Law enforcement agencies must cooperate to tackle international crime.” - Capital punishment (n.) – Death penalty
Example: “Capital punishment is banned in many countries.” - Community service (n.) – Punishment involving unpaid work
Example: “Minor offenders may receive community service instead of prison.” - Probation period (n.) – Supervised period outside jail
Example: “The judge gave him a probation period instead of jail time.” - Criminal record (n.) – Official record of crimes committed
Example: “A criminal record can affect future job opportunities.”
2. Essential Crime & Law Collocations
Verb + Noun:
- Commit a crime
“Those who commit a crime should face consequences.” - Break the law
“Speeding is breaking the law.” - Enforce the law
“It’s the duty of the police to enforce the law.” - Face trial
“The accused faced trial for robbery.” - Serve a sentence
“He served a five-year sentence for theft.”
Adjective + Noun:
- Strict laws
“Strict laws can deter criminal behavior.” - Serious offence
“Murder is a serious offence.” - Harsh punishment
“Some argue that harsh punishments reduce crime.” - Criminal justice system
“The criminal justice system needs reform in many countries.” - Repeat offender
“Repeat offenders should receive stricter penalties.”
3. Crime & Law Phrasal Verbs
- Break into – Enter illegally
“Someone broke into my car last night.” - Crack down on – Take severe action
“Authorities are cracking down on drug trafficking.” - Own up (to something) – Admit guilt
“He owned up to stealing the money.” - Get away with – Escape punishment
“The thief got away with a minor fine.” - Lock up – Put in prison
“The police locked up the suspect.”
4. Crime & Law Compound Words
- Crime rate (n.) – Number of crimes in a given area
Example: “Urban areas often have higher crime rates.” - Security camera (n.) – Surveillance camera
Example: “Security cameras helped identify the burglar.” - Courtroom drama (n.) – Legal trial shown in media
Example: “Courtroom dramas are popular on TV.” - Self-defense (n.) – Protecting oneself legally
Example: “He claimed he acted in self-defense.” - Fingerprint evidence (n.) – Proof using fingerprints
Example: “Fingerprint evidence was crucial in solving the case.”
5. Crime & Law Idioms
- Caught red-handed – Caught in the act of a crime
“The shoplifter was caught red-handed.” - Do time – Spend time in prison
“He did time for armed robbery.” - Above the law – Not subject to the law
“No one should be above the law.” - Lay down the law – Set strict rules
“Parents sometimes need to lay down the law.” - Throw the book at (someone) – Give the maximum punishment
“The judge threw the book at the repeat offender.”
6. IELTS Speaking Examples
Part 1 Example:
“I believe petty crimes like shoplifting happen because people feel desperate or face peer pressure. Personally, I try to avoid areas with high crime rates.”
Part 3 Example:
“While some argue for capital punishment as a deterrent, I believe rehabilitation is more effective in reducing crime. Strict laws are important, but so is understanding the root causes of criminal behavior.”
7. Writing Task 2 Vocabulary Boosters
Problem:
“Rising crime rates pose serious challenges to urban safety and social stability.”
Solution:
“Implementing stricter law enforcement alongside community outreach programs can help lower crime rates.”
Advantage:
“A fair and transparent criminal justice system ensures public trust and social order.”