Crime Dictionary
The world of crime and investigation is as complex as it is fascinating, with a language all its own. From legal jargon to forensic terminology, understanding the words and phrases used in criminal justice is essential for unraveling the stories of those who’ve crossed the line—or fought to hold it.
Whether you’re a true crime enthusiast, a student of criminology, or just curious about the intricacies of the law, this crime dictionary is your guide to the terms that shape the pursuit of justice.
In these pages, you’ll find explanations of key concepts, from “modus operandi” to “circumstantial evidence,” alongside the lesser-known terms that make up the fabric of crime investigations. With clear definitions and context, this resource breaks down the barriers to understanding, giving you the tools to dive deeper into the cases that captivate us all.
Accomplice: A person who knowingly assists another in committing a crime.
Aggravated Murder: A murder that is more severe due to certain factors, such as killing with extreme cruelty, killing multiple people, or killing while committing another crime.
Alibi: Evidence that a suspect was somewhere else when the crime occurred.
B
Battery: The unlawful physical contact or violence inflicted on another person.
Burden of Proof: The obligation to prove one’s assertion, typically falling on the prosecution in criminal cases.
C
Capital Murder: A murder that can result in the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole, usually involving special circumstances like the killing of a law enforcement officer.
Cause of Death: The official determination of how a person died, such as a gunshot wound, poisoning, etc.
Crime of Passion: A homicide committed in the heat of the moment, often driven by strong emotions.
Criminal Homicide: The act of causing the death of another person, whether intentionally or unintentionally, without legal justification.
D
Deadly Weapon: Any object that can cause death or serious bodily harm.
Depraved Heart Murder: A killing resulting from an act showing reckless disregard for human life.
Double Jeopardy: The legal principle that a person cannot be tried twice for the same offense after being acquitted or convicted.
E
Exoneration: The act of officially absolving someone of guilt after they’ve been convicted.
F
Felony Murder: A murder that occurs during the commission of another felony, such as robbery or kidnapping, even if the killing was unintentional.
First-Degree Murder: A premeditated, intentional killing.
G
Grievous Bodily Harm: Severe injury inflicted on another person, sometimes used as evidence in homicide cases.
H
Homicide: The killing of one person by another. It can be criminal, excusable, or justifiable.
Heat of Passion: An emotional state provoked by an event, often used as a defense to reduce a murder charge to manslaughter.
Hitman: A person hired to kill someone, typically for money.
I
Involuntary Manslaughter: The unintentional killing of another person through recklessness or criminal negligence.
Intent to Kill: The conscious decision to end another person’s life, necessary to prove in many homicide cases.
J
Justifiable Homicide: A killing that is permitted under the law, such as in self-defense.
K
Killer: A general term for someone who takes another person’s life, whether lawfully or unlawfully.
L
Lethal Force: Force that is likely to cause death or serious harm.
Life Sentence: A prison sentence where the convicted person must spend the rest of their life in prison, often given for murder.
M
Malice Aforethought: The intention to kill or cause grievous harm to someone, a necessary element in proving murder.
Manslaughter: A lesser form of homicide, where the killing is not premeditated or planned, or is committed in the heat of passion.
Mass Murder: The killing of multiple people at the same time or in a very short period.
Medical Examiner: A physician who performs autopsies to determine the cause of death.
Mitigating Circumstances: Factors that reduce the severity of a crime, potentially leading to a lesser charge or sentence.
N
Negligent Homicide: The unintentional killing of someone due to the negligent actions of the perpetrator.
Non-Culpable Homicide: A killing where the person responsible is not considered legally blameworthy, such as in self-defense.
O
Overkill: The use of excessive force in a killing, often seen as a sign of intense rage or a personal connection to the victim.
P
Premeditation: The planning and consideration of a killing before it is carried out.
Parricide: The killing of one’s parent or close relative.
R
Reckless Homicide: A killing resulting from reckless behavior, often involving dangerous actions without regard for human life.
S
Second-Degree Murder: A non-premeditated killing resulting from an assault where death was a distinct possibility.
Serial Killer: A person who kills multiple people over a period of time, often following a specific pattern or motive.
Spree Killer: Someone who kills two or more victims in a short period of time, in multiple locations.
Self-Defense: A legal defense used when a person kills someone to protect themselves from imminent harm or death.
T
Torture Murder: A killing involving prolonged physical or mental suffering inflicted on the victim before death.
U
Unintentional Homicide: A killing that occurs without the intent to kill, often due to reckless or negligent actions.
V
Vehicular Homicide: The killing of a person through the reckless or negligent use of a vehicle.
Voluntary Manslaughter: A killing that occurs in the “heat of passion” without premeditation, typically in response to a provocation.
W
Wrongful Death: A civil action that can be taken when someone is killed due to the negligence or misconduct of another person or entity.