IELTS PRACTICE TOPIC 4.

CRIME VOCABULARY AND IDEAS

I. VOCABULARY
1. The crime rate: a measure of the number of crimes in a particular area during a period of time
“The reduction of the crime rate is the main goal for lawmakers.”
2. To commit a crime: does something wrong or illegal
“In the US, a young person who commits a crime by stealing a car will almost certainly go to
prison.”
3. Prison sentence: the period of time served in prison under such as a sentence
“It is the heated debate that government have to pass lenient laws that would avoid the prison
sentence while others think it would increase the crime rate in our society.”
4. Deterrent: a punishment makes somebody less likely to do illegal activities
“The death penalty acts as a deterrent to people who wish to bring drugs illegally into another
country.”
5. Loss of freedom: be not free
“Loss of freedom is a punishment that offenders have to face when they go to jail.”
6. White-collar crime: crimes committed by “office works”, for example, fraud
“More and more employees who work in a bank turn into crime as white-collar crime.”
7. Be put on probation: to be under supervision to ensure their good behaviour
“Sometimes first-time offenders are not imprisoned but are put on probation for a set period of
time to ensure their good behaviour.”
8. Social isolation: the state of separating somebody from our society
“The offenders have to serve the prison sentence as the social isolation to remain safety of
society.”
9. A violent criminal: includes assault, mugging and robbery
“A student who is bullied at school may turn into a violent criminal when they grow up.”
10. Motive for crime: the reason why people commit crimes
” A desire for revenge on his wife is a motive for his crime as murder.”
11. Allay the fears: to make someone feel less afraid, worried
“I believe that some solutions could help to allay people’s fears.”
12. Turn to a career of crime: become a criminal
“Nowadays, in the harshly competitive labour market, the unemployment rate is rising rapidly,
more and more people cannot meet the basic human’s need that is maybe a reason for them to
turn to a career of crime.”
13. To be imprisoned: go to a jail
“Being imprisoned is the best way to punish offenders for their guilty.”
14. To breed future offenders: influence people, especially young people, in such a way that they
later commit a crime
“Parents should give more attention to their offspring in order to avoid breeding future offenders.”
15. Easy money: money that you get without working hard for it, especially when you do illegal
activities to get this money
“To make easy money, the bank robbery have stolen two billion dollars from five international
banks in this year.”
16. To break the law: do something illegal
“If a person breaks the law, he is certainly imprisoned.”
17. To resort to crime: to use crime because there is no other solution
“After losing all money from the game, the men resorted to crime to get easy money.”
18. Illegal activities: the illegal acts
“It is alarming that more and more youngsters turn into illegal activities.”
19. Fall foul of the law: to get into trouble with the police because you are doing something illegal
“In Vietnam, if the company discharges the huge amount of untreated waste into rivers, they
certainly fall foul of the law.”
20. Juvenile delinquency: Antisocial behaviour committed by people under eighteen years old

IELTSPractice/Topic4/Crime/Vocabulary&ideas 1
 IELTS Practice – Topic 4. Crime – Vocabulary & ideas
“It is true that juvenile delinquency rate is increasing alarmingly, which could jeopardise the social
stability.”
21. Soaring crime rates: crime rates rising very fast
“We are facing off soaring crime rates and it’s high time the criminals were brought to justice.”
22. Miscarriages of justice: Situation where innocent people are found guilty
“There have been a multitude of miscarriages of justice recently.”
23. Trumped-up charges: invented and false accusations
24. Face trial
“No one in the world should face trial on the basis of unreliable evidence or trumped-up charges.”
25. Escape punishment
26. Custodial sentences: a sentence to be served in a prison or similar institution
27. Commit minor offences
“While the rich always seem to escape punishment, poor people seem to receive custodial
sentences even for committing minor offences.”
28. Extenuating circumstances: circumstances that lessen the blame
29. Serve out one’s sentence: serve the full amount of time

Courts and Trials

The trial was adjourned: the trial was suspended till a later time or date
To be remanded in custody: send to prison until the trial begins or continues
Dismiss the case: Decide that the case is not worth considering
Unanimous verdict: verdict which all the decision makers agree to
Contest the verdict: Disagree with the verdict and tried to change it

Other Useful Expressions and Phrases for Crime and Punishment Topic:
 Capital punishments | Death penalty
 To sentence criminals to death
 A form of revenge
 A criminal record
 To engage in unlawful activities
 To re-offend
 Criminals = Wrongdoers = Lawbreakers = Convicts = Offenders
 Rehabilitated prisoners
 Community service
 Prison sentences
 Unlawful actions
 To deter/discourage people from doing something
 Inmates
 To send somebody to prison

II. IDEAS
II.1. Police and Crime Prevention
 The job of the police is to catch criminals.
 They must also prevent crime and make communities safer.
 There should be an increase in the number of police officers on the streets.
 Police officers should be seen as part of the community.
 They should be involved with education and prevention.
 The police should be in close contact with schools.
 They should focus on young people who have dropped out of school.
 These teenagers may become involved with gangs.
II.2. Punishments / Prisons
 Fines are used as punishment for minor crimes.
 If the crime is more serious, prison is the most common punishment.
 Some criminals pose a threat to society.

IELTSPractice/Topic4/Crime/Vocabulary&ideas 2
 IELTS Practice – Topic 4. Crime – Vocabulary & ideas
 They are put in prison to ensure the safety of other citizens.
Negatives of Prisons
 Criminals are put together.
 They make friends with other offenders.
 Many prisoners re-offend when they are released.
 A criminal record makes finding a job more difficult.
II.3. Rehabilitation
 Another aim of prisons is rehabilitation.
 Prisoners receive education or vocational training.
 Prisoners should learn personal skills and specific job skills.
 Punishment could make prisoners’ behaviour worse.
 Rehabilitation aims to make them better citizens.
 Rehabilitated prisoners are less likely to re-offend.
II.4. Capital Punishment
For Capital Punishment
 Supporters say that capital punishment deters crime.
 Fear of the death penalty stops people from committing offences.
 The death penalty shows that crime is not tolerated.
 It is a form of revenge.
 The cost of imprisonment is avoided.
 The offender cannot pose a threat to others.
Against Capital Punishment
 Innocent people could be wrongly convicted and executed.
 Crime rates are not necessarily reduced.
 Many criminals do not think they will be caught.
 Capital punishment is not a good deterrent.
 Executing prisoners creates a violent culture and encourages revenge.
 We have no right to take another human life.
II.5. Community Service
For Community Service
 Community service is a way to reform offenders.
 It could be a solution to prison overcrowding.
 It avoids the cost of imprisonment.
 It makes offenders useful in their local communities.
 They are required to clean streets or talk to school groups.
 Offenders repay their community.
 They avoid the negative influence that prison can have.
Against Community Service
 Community service is not a sufficient punishment.
 Criminals should be locked up, away from their victims.
II.6. Crime in the Media
 Crime is one of the main subjects of most news programmes.
 The mass media focus on violent and sensational crimes.
 This leads to fear of crime among the public.
 Sensational stories attract more viewers or readers.
 The media report crime stories in order to increase their audience.
II.7. Guns and Weapons
 to be armed
 to own firearms
 use guns in self defence
 use weapons
 carry guns
 This deters criminals
IELTSPractice/Topic4/Crime/Vocabulary&ideas 3
 IELTS Practice – Topic 4. Crime – Vocabulary & ideas
 The threat of a gun can deter criminals
 a risk of accidents with guns
 Suicide rates have been shown to rise when guns are available
 Police officers can forces a criminal to surrender
 The police may shoot violent criminals in self defence
 The police can shoot an escaping criminal who poses a serious danger to the public
 The police might shoot an unarmed criminal
 Accidents can happen in public places
 alternatives to guns: tear gas or sprays, andelectric shock weapons)
 Weapons may be used in conflicts and wars
 The supply of arms could be responsible for deaths
II.8. Nuclear weapons
 Nuclear weapons should be prohibited
 Nuclear weapons are capable of destroying whole cities
 Governments should limit the production of nuclear weapons
 There is a danger of nuclear weapons being obtained by terrorists
II.9. Armed Forces
 Armed forces deter military attack by another country
 They provide security and protection
 Soldiers are also used to help in emergency situations, such as natural disasters
 Too much money is spent on weapons and military technology
 Armies require a lot of funding from governments

IELTSPractice/Topic4/Crime/Vocabulary&ideas 4