English Collocations in Use Advanced - Unit 38: Criminal justice

escape punishment

avoid punishment:

The thieves managed to ... ... .

custodial sentences

a sentence to be served in a prison or similar institution:

He now faces a ... ... .

commit minor offences

to break a rule at slightest degree:

The police cautioned him for ... a ... ... .

miscarriage of justice

situation where innocent people are found guilty:

Many people oppose the death penalty because of the possibility of ... ... ... .

face trial

be judged in a court of law:

Doctors said he was unfit to ... ... .

unreliable evidence

evidence you cannot trust

trumped-up charges

deliberately based on false information so that someone will be accused of doing something wrong and punished:

She was imprisoned on ... corruption ... .

put smb on trial

to prosecute:

They should never have been ... ... ..., let alone convicted.

find guilty

to decide someone committed a crime:

The jury ... her ... of murder. He was ... not ... of the death of PC Jones.

be given a sentence

to be ruled to be punished by justice:

She was given a three-year prison sentence.

serve out their sentence

serve the full amount of time:

Dillon’s almost ... ... his ... (=in prison).

soaring crime rates

crime rates that increase quickly to a high level

be brought to justice

taken into custody, taken before a judge, convicted

extenuating / mitigating circumstances

circumstances that lessen the blame

fit to stand trial

to be capable to go in the court

give evidence

provide clues

the trial was adjourned until

trial was suspended till a later time or date

be remanded in custody

send to prison until the trial begins or continues

denied all knowledge

claimed that they did not know about smth

unreliable witness

not trusted witness

dismiss the case

decide that the case is not worth considering

awarded damages

ordered the organisation or person who has been responsible for causing injury or loss to pay money to the victim as compensation

unanimous verdict

verdict which all the decision makers agree to

found not guilty

to pronounce not guilty

beyond reasonable doubt

under sensible clues

contest the verdict

disagree with the verdict and tried to change it

overturn the verdict

cancel the previous verdict

appear in court

to be present in court

justice had been served

justice "done"