IELTS Writing Vocabulary: Crime & Punishment

IELTS Vocabulary Topic: Crime & Punishment

appreciate – to recognize how good someone or something is and to value him, her, or it

arson – the crime of intentionally starting a fire in order to damage or destroy something, especially a building

authority – the official power to make decisions for other people

convict – someone who is in prison because they are guilty of a crime

criminal – someone who commits a crime

deterrent – a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something

fine – an amount of money that has to be paid as a punishment for not obeying a rule or law

fraud – the crime of getting money by deceiving people

imprisonment – the state of being in prison, or the time someone spends there

inequality – an unfair situation, in which some groups in society have more money, opportunities, power etc than others

intent – the fact that you want and plan to do something

intrusion – an occasion when someone goes into a place or situation where they are not wanted or expected to be

kidnap – to take someone somewhere illegally by force, often in order to get money for returning them; ransom

motive – a reason for doing something

offense – a specific act that breaks the law

pickpocketing – the crime of stealing things out of people’s pockets or bags, especially in a crowd

prosecutor – a person, especially a public official, who institutes legal proceedings against someone.

recklessness – lack of regard for the danger or consequences of one’s actions

smuggling – the crime of taking goods or people into or out of a country illegally

swearing – rude or offensive language that someone uses, especially when they are angry

the accused – the person who is on trial in a law court

vandalism – the crime of intentionally damaging property belonging to other people

violation – an action that breaks a law, agreement, rule, etc.

evil – morally bad, cruel, or very unpleasant

harsh – unpleasant, unkind, cruel, or more severe than is necessary

intentional – planned or intended; done on purpose; deliberate

law-abiding – someone who obeys the law

offensive – very rude or insulting and likely to upset people

petty – not important and not worth giving attention to

punishable – (of an act) subject to a judicial punishment

strict – limiting people’s freedom to behave as they wish beyond what is usual

victimless – (of a crime) lacking a victim, or thought not to involve a victim

abide – accept and follow out; remain faithful to; dwell; endure

abolish – to put an end to something, such as an organization, rule, or custom

combat – to try to stop something unpleasant or harmful

deter – to prevent or discourage someone from doing something

enforce – to make people obey a rule or law

imprison – to put someone in prison

offend – to make someone upset or angry

perpetrate – to commit a crime or a violent or harmful act

resent – to dislike or be angry at something or someone because you have been hurt or not treated fairly

sanction – a strong action taken in order to make people obey a law or rule, or a punishment given when they do not obey

on behalf of – for somebody; instead of somebody

insane – mentally ill

elusive – difficult to describe, find, achieve, or remember

deem – to consider or judge

bully – a person who threatens to hurt someone, often forcing that person to do something

IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions

1. Nowadays you can find instructional videos for just about any crime you can think of. What possible effects can this have on individuals and society? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
2. In many countries the age of criminals is getting lower. Give reasons and solutions to the problem. Support your position with relevant examples.
3. In most countries military officers retire at the age of 45 while other people work as long as 65 to 70. Compare these two approaches. Provide specific reasons and examples to support your position.
4. Some people believe that once a person becomes a criminal, he will always be a criminal. Do you agree with this statement? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
5. In some countries, prisons are overcrowded, leading to many government expenses. To lessen the cost for prisoners’ cost of living, reduced sentences are implemented. What do you suggest could be done? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your answer.