Legal English Studies/Fabrie/Definitions

Crime or Offense and their Definitions

ArsonThe malicious burning of another's house or property, or in some statutes, the burning of one's own house or property, as to collect insurance.AssassinationTo kill suddenly or secretively, especially a politically prominent person; murder premeditatedly and treacherously. To destroy or harm treacherously and viciously: to assassinate a person's character.

AssaultThe threat or attempt to strike another, whether successful or not.

Blackmail

Extortion of money or something else of value from a person by the threat of exposing a criminal act or discreditable information.

Bribery and Corruption

The act or practice of offering money or gifts to someone in higher authority. An immoral act of persuasion for a favour. E.g. Politicians and donations of money or luxury holidays.

BurglaryEntering a building unlawfully with intent to commit a felony or to steal valuable propertyDrug TraffickingBuying and selling; especially illicit trade like drugs.EmbezzlementTo take (money, for example) for one's own use in violation of a trust. The misappropriation of funds that have been entrusted to one for care or managementForgery1. The act of reproducing something for a deceitful or fraudulent purpose2. Something forged, such as a work of art or an antique3. (Law) Criminal lawa. the false making or altering of any document, such as a cheque or character reference (and including a postage stamp), or any tape or disc on which information is stored, intending that anyone shall accept it as genuine and so act to his or another's prejudiceb.something forged4. (Law) Criminal law the counterfeiting of a seal or die with intention to defraud

Fraud Deliberate deception, trickery, or cheating intended to gain an advantage A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain.Hijackinga. To stop and rob (a vehicle in transit).b. To steal (goods) from a vehicle in transit.c. To seize control of (a moving vehicle) by use of force, especially in order to reach an alternate destination.

KidnappingTo seize and detain unlawfully and usually for ransom. The unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonmentLibel "document, written statement."A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation.b. The act of presenting such material to the public.2. The written claims presented by a plaintiff in an action at admiralty law or to an ecclesiastical court.

Looting stealing unlawfully1. Valuables pillaged in time of war, earthquakes, floods; spoils.2. Stolen goods

ManslaughterThe general term for the killing of a person by another is homicide; murder is either the intentional killing or the malicious killing of another, while manslaughter is the unintentional, accidental killing of another through carelessness.MisconductDishonest or bad management, especially by persons entrusted or engaged to act on another's behalf.Deliberate wrongdoing, especially by government or military officials

MuggingAn assault upon a person especially with the intent to rob.

MurderThe unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice.

PerjuryThe deliberate, willful giving of false, misleading, or incomplete testimony under oath.The breach of an oath or promise.

Pick-pocketing Charles Dickens Oliver Twist: Childrens classicsTo steal from your pockets or bag without you noticing Someone in the subway picked my pocket and got my wallet. To cheat someone Her lawyer told her that he would look out for her interests and then proceeded to pick her pocket.

PilferTo take (the property of another) without right or permission. The act of stealing.RapeThe crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse.The act of seizing and carrying off by force; abduction.

RobberyThe act or an instance of unlawfully taking the property of another by the use of violence or intimidation.ShopliftingTo steal merchandise from a store that is open for business.Slander1. Law Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation.2. A false and malicious statement or report about someone.

Smuggling1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties.2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth.

TerrorismThe unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. Theft The act or an instance of stealing; larceny.Something stolen.

TreasonViolation of allegiance toward one's country or sovereign, especially the betrayal of one's country by waging war against it or by consciously and purposely acting to aid its enemies.2. A betrayal of trust or confidence.

Trespassing1. To commit an offense or a sin; transgress or err.2. Law To commit an unlawful injury to the person, property, or rights of another, with actual or implied force or violence, especially to enter onto another's land wrongfully.3. To infringe on the privacy, time, or attention of another: "I must . . . not trespass too far on the patience of a good-natured critic" (Henry Fielding).

VandalismWillful or malicious destruction of public or private property.