IELTS vocabulary: Crime

This list presents 12 useful B2–C1 words and collocations about crime, each with a clear definition and a natural example you can use in Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3.

recidivism noun: the tendency of someone who has committed a crime to commit another crime later; “High recidivism rates suggest that the prison system needs better programs to prepare inmates for life after release.”
deterrent noun: something that discourages people from doing something, especially committing a crime; “Many argue that visible police patrols act as an effective deterrent against street crime.”
rehabilitation noun: the process of helping someone return to a normal, law-abiding life after offending; “Spending more on rehabilitation, such as job training and counselling, can lower reoffending rates.”
restorative justice noun phrase: a way of dealing with crime that focuses on repairing harm to victims and involving offenders in making amends; “Restorative justice sessions let victims explain the impact of the offence and give offenders a chance to apologise.”
forensic evidence noun phrase: scientific information (like DNA or fingerprints) used in a court of law to prove facts about a crime; “The conviction relied heavily on forensic evidence recovered from the crime scene.”
white-collar crime noun phrase: non-violent crimes committed for financial gain by people in professional positions, such as fraud or embezzlement; “White-collar crime can cause huge financial losses, yet it is sometimes punished less severely than street crime.”
organised crime noun phrase: criminal activities coordinated by structured groups or networks, often across regions or borders; “Local law enforcement cooperated with international agencies to dismantle the organised crime ring.”
custodial sentence noun phrase: a punishment in which a person is sent to prison or another place of detention; “Judges must decide whether a custodial sentence is necessary or if a non-custodial penalty would be more appropriate.”
community service noun phrase: unpaid work done by an offender as a punishment and as a contribution to the local community; “As a first-time offender, she was given community service instead of a short prison term.”
plea bargain noun phrase: an agreement in a criminal case where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge to avoid trial; “To speed up the case, the defence accepted a plea bargain that reduced the charges.”
parole noun: the conditional release of a prisoner before the full sentence is served, usually with supervision and rules to follow; “After good behaviour in prison, he was released on parole but had to meet with a probation officer weekly.”
reoffend verb: to commit a crime again after having been punished for a previous offence; “Without stable housing and employment, many ex-prisoners are more likely to reoffend.”