12 useful nouns relating to crime and punishment to use in your IELTS exam
Here are some useful nouns that you could use in your IELTS exam responses if you are asked to talk or write about crime and punishment.
Acquittal (noun): to declare someone not guilty of a criminal charge by a court of law. It’s a legal term indicating that the accused has been cleared of the charges brought against them.
Caution (noun): A formal warning given by the police to someone who has admitted to committing a minor offense.
Conviction (noun): A formal declaration of guilt by a court following a criminal trial.
Deterrent (noun): Something that discourages or prevents someone from committing a crime by fear of punishment.
Interrogation (noun): The formal questioning of a suspect, witness, or person of interest by law enforcement officials.
Parole board (noun): A panel that decides whether prisoners may be released on parole before serving their full sentence.
Perpetrator (noun): The person who commits a crime or wrongdoing.
Probation (noun): The release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behaviour under supervision.
Recidivism rate (noun): The percentage of former prisoners who are rearrested or reconvicted for a new crime after their release from prison.
Rehabilitation (noun): The process of helping prisoners to reintegrate into society and lead law-abiding lives upon release.
Solitary confinement (noun): A form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, often as a punishment.
Warden (noun): A person responsible for the supervision of a prison or its inmates.
Can you complete the following sentences using one word from the list for each answer? Use the correct form of the word and make sure your answer completes a grammatically correct sentence!
Acquittal / Caution / Conviction / Deterrent / Interrogation / Parole board / Perpetrator / Probation / Recidivism rate / Rehabilitation / Solitary confinement / Warden
1. Police can often track down the ……………………. of a robbery through CCTV footage if it is available.
2. Prisoners may be placed in ……………………….. as punishment for violence against other inmates.
3. During the ……………………….., the suspect maintained his innocence despite the mounting evidence against him.
4. Instead of serving jail time, first-time offenders may be placed on …………………….. for a specific period of time.
5. ………………………… conduct regular inspections of prison cells to ensure safety, cleanliness and security.
6. The case was deliberated by the jury and resulted in an ………………………. of the defendant.
7. Police officers may decide to issue a ……………………….. to a young first-time offender for shoplifting rather than press charges.
8. Prisons offer various programs aimed at the ………………………. of inmates, including vocational training and therapy.
9. The jury returned a guilty verdict, leading to the ………………………. of the suspect for the murder of his wife.
10. When a …………………………. assesses the suitability of prisoners for early release, the primary concern is the risk of further offending.
11. Heavy fines for illegal parking serve as a …………………………. to motorists in the city centre.
12. The government is concerned about the high …………………….. among former prisoners.
Answers
1. Police can often track down the perpetrator of a robbery through CCTV footage if it is available.
2. Prisoners may be placed in solitary confinement as punishment for violence against other inmates.
3. During the interrogation, the suspect maintained his innocence despite the mounting evidence against him.
4. Instead of serving jail time, first-time offenders may be placed on probation for a specific period of time.
5. Wardens conduct regular inspections of prison cells to ensure safety, cleanliness and security.
6. The case was deliberated by the jury and resulted in an acquittal of the defendant.
7. Police officers may decide to issue a caution to a young first-time offender for shoplifting rather than press charges.
8. Prisons offer various programs aimed at the rehabilitation of inmates, including vocational training and therapy.
9. The jury returned a guilty verdict, leading to the conviction of the suspect for the murder of his wife.
10. When a parole board assesses the suitability of prisoners for early release, the primary concern is the risk of further offending.
11. Heavy fines for illegal parking serve as a deterrent to motorists in the city centre.
12. The government is concerned about the high recidivism rate among former prisoners.
