UNIT VII

CRIME. TYPES OF CRIME.

Motto: “All crime is a kind of disease and should be treated as such”

1
Key words:
Criminal intent-____intentie criminala___ ;_Ion are intentii criminale de mic
________________________
Juvenile delinquency_delicventa juvenila;____ consumul de către unii minori de substanţe halucinogene
şi alcool pentru creşterea unei stări euforice este delicvent juvenil_________
Felonies-_infractiuni_;____Oleg a comis multe infracyiuni__________
Larceny-__furt; Oleg a comis 3 furturi timp de 2 saptamini ___________________
Forgery-_falsificare_____;___  Falsificarea de monede, timbre sau de alte valori ______
Bribery-_mita___________;__ Statul a întemeiat un caz, împotriva lui Sue Ellen pentru mituire. __
Conspiracy-__conspiratire_;____ Sigur.Pretinde ca nu exista și adaug-o la conspirația tăcerii. ______
Extortion-santaj____;____ Vargas a intrat la pușcărie pentru crimă, șantaj și delapidare. __________
Arson-__incendiere_;___ Anchetatorul a spus că a fost un caz clar de incendiere _____
White-collar crimes-infractiune in afaceri_;_ Vă veți alătura agenților federali, în timp ce vom investiga totul de
la infracțiuni în afaceri  _______
Read the key words and give the Romanian equivalents. What is your understanding of these
words? Write a sentence with each of them.

Starting up:
A. Define “crime” in your own words
B. Name as many crimes as you can remember. What do you think would be a reasonable
punishment in each case? Work in teams and compare your lists with those of other teams.
C. What steps can the society take to cope with crime? What can law enforcing institutions do in
order to prevent crimes?

Vocabulary:
A: End the sentences using the following words:
a statute; the suspect; a murderer; the innocent; a code; a thief.
a) Someone who steals a lot is___________________________.
b) Someone who killed a person is________________________.
c) Someone who is suspected of a crime is__________________.
d) Someone who is found not guilty is______________________.
e) A document which regulates legal behaviour is_____________.
f) A document which details elements of a crime is ___________.

B: S t u d y the following list o f o f f e n c e s . Rate them on a scale f r o m 1 to 10 ( 1 is a minor

o f f e n c e , 10 is a v e r y serious c r i m e ) . T h e y are in no particular order. You don't have t o
a p p l y your knowledge o f existing laws — your own opinion i s necessary:
 driving in excess of the speed limit
 common assault (e.g. a fight in a disco-club)
 drinking and driving
 malicious wounding (e.g. stabbing someone in a fight)
 murdering a policeman during a robbery
 murdering a child
 causing death by dangerous driving
 smoking marijuana
 selling drugs (such as heroin)
 stealing £ 1,000 from a bank by fraud
 stealing £ 1,000 worth of goods from someone's home
 rape
 grievous bodily harm (almost killing someone)
 shop-lifting
2
  stealing £ 1,000 from a bank by threatening someone with a gun
 possession of a gun without a licence

C: Match each word on the l e f t with the appropriate definition on the right:

1. an arsonist a) attacks and robs people, often in the street

2. a shop-lifter b) sets fire to property illegally
3. a mugger c) is anyone who breaks the law
4. an offender d) breaks into houses or other buildings to steal
5. a vandal e) steals from shops while acting as an ordinary customer
6. a burglar f) kills someone
7. a murderer g) deliberately causes damage to property
8. a kidnapper h) steals things from people’s pockets in crowded places
9. a pickpocket i) gets secret information from another country

10. an accomplice j) buys and sells drugs illegally

11. a drug dealer k) takes away people by force and demands money for their
return
12. a spy l) helps a criminal in a criminal act
13. a terrorist m) uses violence for political reasons
14. an assassin n) causes damage or disturbance in public places
15. a hooligan o) hides on a ship or plane to get a free journey
16. a stowaway p) takes control of a plane by force and makes the pilot change
course
17. a thief q) murders for political reasons or a reward
18. a hijacker r) is someone who steals
19. a forger s) makes counterfeit (false) money or signatures
20. a robber t) is a member of a criminal group
21. a smuggler u) steals money, etc. by force from people or places
22. a traitor v) marries illegally , being married already
23. a gangster w) is a soldier who runs away from the army
24. a deserter x) brings goods into a country illegally without paying tax
25. a bigamist y) illegally carries drugs into another country
26. a drug smuggler z) betrays his or her country to another state

D: Continue the following table with the words f r o m C where possible. Here we have some
examples. Consult the dictionary when necessary:

Crime Criminal Criminal Act

treason traitor to betray

theft thief to steal

murder murderer to murder

DEBATE
All criminals are perverse people!
3
Prepare your arguments for or against the statement above. Use the active vocabulary from the
Unit. Divide into two groups- pro and con, and conduct a debate. The chairperson of the debate
will give the floor to the speakers of both teams.

Lead-in
 Write down the things you know about types of crime and ask questions about what you
would like to find out. Then read the text to check your information and explain the
underlined words and expressions:

A) WHAT ARE CRIMES?

It is very important to know which acts are criminal.
Offenses Against Society
The most fundamental characteristic of a crime is that it is a punishable offense against society.
Consequently, when a crime occurs, society, acting through such employees as the police and
prosecutors, attempts to identify, arrest, prosecute, and punish the criminal. These measures are
designed to protect society rather than to aid the victim of the crime. Victims of almost all crimes can
sue identified criminals for civil damages, but seldom do because it is costly and difficult to collect from
such defendants.
Elements of Crimes
Before anyone can be convicted of a crime, three elements usually must be proved at the trial. They are:
1. a duty to do or not to do a certain thing,
2. a violation of the duty, and
3. criminal intent.
Duty
The duty to do or not to do a certain thing usually is described by statutes which prohibit certain
conduct. Generally only conduct that is serious -involving violence or theft of property — is classified
as an offense against society and therefore criminal.
Violation of the Duty
The breach of duty must also be proved in a criminal trial. This is the specific conduct by the defendant,
which violates the duty. For example, battery is always a crime. Criminal battery is often defined in
statutes as “the intentional causing of corporal harm”. Corporal harm means bodily harm. A breach of
this duty could be established in a trial by the testimony of a witness who swore that she saw the
defendant deliberately punch the victim.
Criminal Intent
The third element, criminal intent, must be proved in most cases. Criminal intent generally means that
the defendant intended to commit the act and intended to do evil.
A few crimes do not require criminal intent. These are generally less serious crimes, for which a jail
sentence is very unlikely. Traffic offenses fall within this classification. You may not have intended to
speed or have intended evil but you have still committed this crime.
Today, statutes of most states fix the age of criminal liability at 18, but the figure ranges from 16
to 19. Statutes often provide that minors as young as 13 or 16 may be tried and punished as adults if
they are accused of serious crimes such as murder. Generally, however, what is a crime for adults is
juvenile delinquency for minors.
Ignorance or mistake is generally no excuse for violating a law. A person is presumed to know
what the law is. To have criminal intent, one must have sufficient mental capacity at the time one
commits a crime to know the difference between right and wrong and to be capable of deciding what to
do. Accordingly, insane persons are not held liable for their criminal acts.
Normally neither voluntary intoxication nor drug abuse is a good defense against a criminal charge.

1.1. Answer the questions:

1. What is the most fundamental characteristic of a crime?
2. What is a criminal conduct?
4
3. What are the three elements of a crime?
4. What is the age of criminal liability?
5. What is the age of criminal liability for serious crimes?
6. What is the criminal intent?
7. What is the criminal juvenile delinquency?

B) HOW ARE CRIMES CLASSIFIED?

Crimes may be classified in various ways. One type of classification is given below. As you read the
following list, however, keep in mind that human beings are the ultimate victims in all crimes:
1. crimes against a person (murder, assault and battery, kidnapping, rape),
2. crimes against property (larceny, robbery, hijacking loaded trucks, embezzlement, receiving stolen
property),
3. crimes against the government and the administration of justice (treason, tax evasion, bribery,
counterfeiting, perjury),
4. crimes against public peace and order (rioting, carrying weapons, drunk and disorderly conduct,
illegal speeding),
5. crimes against buildings (burglary, arson, criminal trespass),
6.crimes against consumers (fraudulent sale of wild cat securities), or
7.crimes against decency (bigamy, obscenity, prostitution, sexual harassment).
Crimes are classified in terms of their seriousness as felonies or misdemeanors.
1. Felonies
A felony is a crime of a serious nature. It exists when the act:
1) is labeled so by law or
2) is punishable by death or confinement for more than one year in prison.
Murder, kidnapping, arson, rape, robbery, burglary, embezzlement, forgery, larceny (also called theft) of
large sums, and perjury are examples of felonies. A person who lies when under oath commits perjury.
2. Misdemeanors
A misdemeanor is a crime of a less serious nature. It is usually punishable:
1) by confinement in a jail for less than one year
2) by fine, or
3) by both: confinement and fine.
Crimes such as drunkenness in public, driving automobile at an illegal speed, shoplifting, and
larceny of small sums are usually misdemeanors. A lesser misdemeanor is known as an infraction.
Parking overtime on metered parking, failing to clear snow from sidewalks, and littering are examples
of infractions. Ordinarily, a jury is allowed in cases involving infractions because the punishment is no
more than a fine.

1.2. Answer the questions:

1. What are crimes against a person?
2. What are crimes against property?
3. What are crimes against the government and the administration of justice?
4. What are crimes against public peace and order?
5. What are crimes against consumers?
6. What are crimes against decency?
7. What is a felony? Give examples of felonies.
8. What is the punishment for felonies?
9. What is a misdemeanor? Give examples of misdemeanors.
10. What is the punishment for misdemeanors?
11. What is an infraction? Give examples of infractions.
12. What is the punishment for infractions?

5
 C) WHAT ARE BUSINESS RELATED CRIMES?
A business, like any person, is subject to general criminal law. Some crimes, however, are found more
frequently in the business than elsewhere. Business firms are frequently the victims of crimes such as
robbery, burglary, shoplifting, employee pilferage, passing bad checks, vandalism, receiving stolen
property, and embezzlement. Less frequently, but often with much larger sums of money involved,
business persons and firms may commit crimes. Because such criminals are generally well-educated,
respected members of the community, the offenses are called white-collar crimes. These criminals
exploit their victims through concealment and deceit.
Common examples of white-collar crimes are: income tax evasion, consumer fraud, cheating
with false weighing machines, conspiring to fix prices, bribery, and embezzlement.
Normally no physical violence is involved in crimes of this nature. Thus, courts tend to be softer with

the criminals, punishing them with fines or short prison sentences.

Here are some of the common business-related crimes:
1. Larceny
Larceny (commonly known as theft) is the wrongful taking of money or personal property belonging to
someone else. Variations of larceny include robbery (taking property person in immediate presence and
against the victim's will, and by force or by causing fear) and burglary (entering a building with the
intent to commit a crime). Other types of larceny include: shoplifting, pickpocketing, and purse
snatching. Larceny may be either a felony or a misdemeanor. The classification is determined by the
value of the property stolen and the circumstances surrounding the act. However, burglary is always a
felony. In addition, if the burglar sells the stolen goods, he is guilty of two crimes — burglary and
selling stolen property.

Looking at a door handle through a hole

2. Receiving Stolen Property
Knowingly receiving stolen property is an offense separate from larceny. It consists of receiving,
concealing, or buying property known to be stolen, with intent to deprive the rightful owner of the
property. One who receives stolen property is known as a fence. Special statutes deal with the fencing of
types of property that are commonly stolen, such as motor vehicles and valuable airplane, ship, or truck
cargoes.
3. False Pretenses
One who obtains money or other property from another person by lying about a past or existing fact is
guilty of false pretenses (also known as false representation). This crime differs from larceny because
the victim parts with the property voluntarily. False pretenses is a type of fraud.
4. Forgery
Forgery is falsely making or altering any writing (for example the signature of another person).In
forgery there must be intent to defraud either the person whose name is signed or someone else. The
most common forgeries are found on checks when one has signed another's name without permission to

6
do so. Forgery also includes altering a check, such as when one changes “$7” to “$70” and “Seven” to
“Seventy”. Forgery is usually a felony.
5. Bribery
Bribery is offering or giving to a government official money or anything of value which the official was
not authorized to receive in order to influence performance of an official duty. Accepting the money or
offer is also bribery.

businessman bribing another businessman with a bundle of cash

6. Extortion
Extortion (commonly known as blackmail) is obtaining money or other property from a person by
wrongful use of force, fear, or the power of office. The extortionist (blackmailer) may threaten to inflict
bodily injury on the victim or a close relative of the victim. Sometimes the extortionist threatens to
expose a secret crime if payment is not made. Kidnapping is a related crime.
7. Conspiracy
Conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to do an unlawful criminal act, or to do a
lawful act by unlawful means. Usually the agreement is secret. Depending on the circumstances, the
crime may be either a felony or a misdemeanor. Business executives of competing corporations
sometimes conspire to fix prices or to divide markets.
8. Arson
Arson is the willful and illegal burning of a building. Under early common law, the courts sought
primarily to protect human life. Therefore, arson was limited to the malicious burning of another's
home. Arson has been committed when someone intentionally starts a fire or causes an explosion that
results in any burning.

burning car
9. Selling and Buying Narcotic Drugs
Narcotics, when abused, can cause serious mental and physical harm. There exist laws, which make
certain “narcotic-related activities”- criminal offenses. The activities include selling or offering to sell,
possessing, transporting, administering, or giving narcotics without a license, except by medical
prescription.
10. Computer Crime
As mentioned above larceny is «the wrongful taking of the personal property of others. This traditional
definition of the crime made it difficult to prosecute those who steal computer data for two reasons.
First, many courts concluded that there was no taking of “personal property “ but only the loss of
electrical impulses, which no one really owns.

computer hacker
GOOD TO KNOWA crime is any act or omission (of an act) that violates the law and is punishable by the state. Crimes are considered
injurious to society or the community. They include both felonies (more serious offences - like murder or rape) and misdemeanours (like petty
theft, or speeding).

7
1.3. Answer the questions:
1. Enumerate all business related crimes.
2. Give the definition of larceny.
3. What does “receiving stolen property” imply?
4. What are “false pretenses”?
5. Give the definition of forgery.
6. Define bribery.
7. What do you understand by extortion?
8. What is conspiracy?
9. Is arson a willful and illegal burning of a building?
10. Is the computer crime considered to be a larceny?

1.4. Match the following words and phrases to their definitions:

1. arson A. a punishable offence against society
2. bribery B. intentional, illegal burning of a building
3. burglary C. nonviolent crimes committed by generally respected persons
4. conspiracy D. crimes for which there may be no real victim
5. crime E. penalty imposed for committing a crime
6. assault F. punishment allowing liberty under court-ordered supervision
7. battery G. release from all punishment
H. crime of a less serious nature punishable by fine and/or jail up to one year
8. false pretenses I. taking of property by force from the person or presence of another
J. buying known stolen property with the intent to deprive the rightful
owner
9. felony K. a threat which causes a well-founded fear of immediate bodily harm
10. forgery L. freedom from prosecution
11. immunity M. wrongful taking of another's personal property with intent to deprive
the owner of possession
12. juvenile delinquency N. early release of a prisoner with suspension of the remainder of the
prisoner’s sentence
13. larceny O. lying under oath
14. misdemeanor P. illegally entering a building with the intent to commit a crime
15. pardon Q. violation by minors of criminal and other laws
16. parole R. intentional causing of bodily harm
17. perjury S. making or materially altering any writing, with intend to defraud
18. probation T. serious crime punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one
8
19. punishment year
20. receiving stolen property U. obtaining property by lying
21. robbery
22. victimless crimes W. agreement to commit a crime
23. white-collar crimes X. offering, giving, or receiving money to influence official action

1.5. Match the criminals in the list with their correct description:
Blackmailer, forger, hooligan, murderer, shoplifter, vandal, burglar, hijacker, kidnapper, pickpocket,
smuggler, mugger.
1) A, hijacker takes control of a plane, train, bus or boat by force.
2) A mugger r assaults and robs people in the street.
3) A smuggler brings goods into the country illegally.
4) A shoplifter might steal food from a supermarket.
5) A, murderer kills someone on purpose.
6) A kidnapper takes people and demands money for their return.
7) A forger makes illegal copies of paintings, documents…
8) A vandal damages other people’s property.
9) A pickpocket might steal your wallet in a crowd.
10) A, burglar steals from houses.
11) A Blackmailer gets money from others by threatening to tell secrets.
12) A hooligan causes troubles at football matches.

1.6. Look at the list of crimes in the box, then look at the categories below. Decide which category
each one comes under, and write the crime in the appropriate space in the table. Some crimes can
be listed under more than one category. One of the words / expressions in the list is not a crime.

1. abduction 2. actual bodily harm 3. aiding and abetting (=

assisting) an offender 4. arson 5. assault 6. battery 7. being
equipped to steal 8. bigamy 9. blackmail 10. breach of the
Official Secrets Act 11. breaking and entering 12. bribery 13.
burglary 14. careless or reckless driving 15. committing a breach
of the peace 16. conspiracy 17. contempt of court 18. criminal
damage (vandalism, and sometimes also hooliganism) 19.
deception or fraud in order to obtain property, services or pecuniary
advantage 20. driving without a licence or insurance 21. drug
dealing 22. drunk in charge / drink driving 23. embezzlement 24.
espionage 25. forgery 26. grievous bodily harm 27. handling
stolen goods 28. indecency 29. indecent assault 30. infanticide
31. manslaughter 32. misuse of drugs 33. money laundering 34.
murder 35. obscenity 36. obstruction of the police 37.
paedophilia 38. perjury 39. perverting the course of justice 40.
piracy 41. possessing something with intent to damage or destroy
property 42. possessing weapons 43. racial abuse 44. rape 45.
robbery 46. sedition 47. suicide 48. terrorism 49. theft 50.
treason 51. unlawful assembly 52. wounding

9
 Crimes against the person

Crimes against property

Public order offences

Road traffic offences

Sexual offences

Political offences

Offences against justice

Name the offence

1.7. Look at these situations, then decide which crime has been, or is being, committed in each
case. These crimes can all be found in 1.6, but try to do this exercise first without referring back.
In some cases, more than one option is possible. (Note that you do not need to use all of the crimes
from 1.6).
1. TV Newsreader: Police believe the fire was started deliberately at around 2 o'clock this morning when
burning paper was pushed through the letterbox. They are appealing for witnesses to the event.
2. Crown Prosecutor: Tell us in your own words exactly what happened.
Witness: We were in the bar when a man walked up to the victim, pointed a gun at his head and said
“You're a dead man”. Then he pulled the trigger three times.
3. Police constable: You were going in excess of 60, and this is a 30 zone.
Man in car: I think you're mistaken, constable. I was well within the speed limit.
4. Woman: When I got home, I discovered that my back door had been broken open.
Police officer: Had anything been stolen?
Woman: Yes, my new laptop, £ 200 in cash and my pet parrot.
5. Police officer: I'm sorry sir, but I have to report your actions to the proper authorities.
Man: Look, officer, here's £ 50. Let's just pretend this didn't happen, eh?
6. Extract from a newspaper article: The two men were arrested and detained after police checks
revealed that they had been distributing pornographic material over the Internet.
10
7. Interviewing detective: All right, Dagsy. We know you didn't do the Cornmarket Street bank job
yourself, but we know that you were involved somehow.
Police suspect: I was just driving the car Mr Regan, honest. And I didn't know what the others were up
to until they came back with bags of cash.
8. TV newsreader: The car bomb went off in a busy marketplace, injuring several shoppers.
9. Radio newsreader: The police raided a house in New Street this morning and recovered 250 illegal
copies of the latest Harry Potter film, along with professional film copying equipment.
10. Man reading newspaper: I don't believe it. The Foreign Minister has been caught giving government
secrets to another country!
11. Political agitator: Now is the time to rise up and overthrow the running dogs that call themselves
our government. Death to the Prime Minister and his cronies! Death to the Royal Family! Death to the
system that bleeds us dry and abandons us!
Unwashed anarchist hordes: Hooray!
12. Shop assistant: I can't accept this £20 note, madam. It's a fake.
Customer: What? You mean it's counterfeit?
Shop assistant: I'm afraid so. Do you have any other means of payment?
13. Extract from a newspaper article: The investigation into the rail accident confirmed that it occurred
because the rail company had failed to maintain the tracks properly over a five-year period. Eight people
died when the train left the tracks and hit an embankment.
14. Police officer: Take your time and tell me what happened, dear.
Pensioner: The man who came to my door said he had come to read the electric meter, so I let him in. I
went to the kitchen to make him a cup of tea. When I returned he had gone, and so had my television.
15. TV newsreader: A journalist working in the city disappeared this morning. Police later received a
note from a militant faction claiming that they had taken him and were holding him hostage.
16. Woman: The graffiti around here is getting really bad. Last week somebody wrote “Chelsea are
rubbish” on our garden wall.
Man: That's not good. It should say “Chelsea are complete rubbish”.
17. Man: Look at this note, Cheri. It arrived in the post today. It says “Leave £10,000 in cash in the bin
by the bus stop, or I'll tell everyone your dirty secret”.
Woman: Don't worry about it, Tony. It's probably another little joke from him next door.
18. Prosecuting lawyer: Tell us again what happened on the night of the incident, Mr Williams. And let
me remind you that you are still under oath.
Defendant: Like I told you, I was at home asleep, so I have no idea what happened.
Prosecuting lawyer: Don't lie, Mr Williams. We have video evidence that you were in the nightclub
until 3am. And you were seen by several witnesses.
19. Defendant: I don't recognise this court. This trial shouldn't be taking place.
Judge: Sit down, Mr Dowling. You are out of order.
Defendant: Oh shut up, you silly old woman. Go back home and do some washing up or something.
20. Accountant: We've audited these accounts very carefully, and they just don't add up.
Office manager: What exactly are you saying?
Accountant: I'm saying that someone in your office has been secretly helping themselves to company
money.
21. TV presenter: Jimmy Bond, a former government intelligence agent, has just published a book about
the Intelligence Service called “Lifting the Lid”. In it, he gives us a revealing insight into the life of a
secret agent. The government have strongly condemned the book, claiming it contains classified
information that should not be in the public domain.
22. Magistrate: Constable, could you explain what happened?
Police constable: I was proceeding down Newland Street at approximately 8 o'clock last night
when I heard a lot of shouting coming from The Newlands Inn public house. On entering, I saw the
accused in a state of undress and dancing on a table.
Magistrate: You mean he was naked?
Police constable: Yes. As the day he was born.
11
23. Radio newsreader: The judge in the trial of notorious gangster Joe Pinko Pallino adjourned the court
today after it was revealed that several members of the jury had been offered bribes and
other incentives to pass a verdict of “not guilty” on Mr Pallino.
24. TV presenter: A bank account was opened in a false name in the Bahamas, and the cash deposited
there. The funds were then sent by telegraphic transfer to another account in Switzerland, and the
Bahamas account was closed. It was at this stage that the Metropolitan Police called in Interpol.

1.8. Below are 14 crimes. Firstly, link each crime to its definition and then classify each crime as
violent (V) or non-violent (NV).

VorNV Name of crime Definition of crime

v homicide a generic term for the killing of another person
nv fraud any instance in which one party deceives or takes
unfair advantage of another
v assault - attempt to use illegal force on another person
v sexual assault attempt to use illegal force on another person in the
absence of consent to sexual relations
nv money attempt to transform illegally acquired money into
laundering apparently legitimate money
v speeding driving a vehicle in excess of the permitted limit
nv parking leaving one's vehicle in an area or for a duration in
contravention of the law
nv drug dealing possession of and/or trading in illegal substances
nv theft taking the property of another without right or
permission
nv battery the actual use of illegal force on another person
v burglary the crime of breaking into a private home with the
intention of committing a felony
v murder the unlawful killing of a person with intent
v manslaughter the unlawful killing of a person without malicious
intent and therefore without premeditation
v armed robbery the unlawful taking of another's property using a
dangerous weapon

1.9. THE BOX BELOW contains the names of twenty-two crimes. The list gives the definitions of
the same crimes. Match the crimes to their definitions. The first one has been done for you: the
crime of assault is "acting in such a way as to make someone believe he or she will be hurt"

arson assassination assault bigamy blackmail bribery burglary embezzlement

espionage extortion forgery fraud libel manslaughter murder perjury piracy robbery
slander smuggling theft treason

1. assault acting in such a way as to make someone believe he or she will be hurt.
2. _____treason__betraying your country to a foreign power.
3. ___ piracy ____copying patented inventions or copyrighted works.
4. ___ burglary ____entering a building illegally and stealing things.
5. ____ blackmail ___ getting money from people by threatening to publicise facts they do not
want revealed.
6. ____ extortion ___getting money from people by using threats.
7. ____ fraud ___getting property or money from people by making them believe untrue things.

12
 8. ___ bigamy ____going through a ceremony of marriage when you are still married to someone
else.
9. __ assassination _____killing a public figure illegally and intentionally.
10. ___ murder ____killing someone illegally and intentionally.
11. ___ manslaughter ____killing someone unintentionally or in mitigating circumstances.
12. ___ forgery ____making an illegal copy of a banknote or document.
13. ___ bribery ____offering money corruptly to get someone to do something to help you.
14. ___ slander ____saying something which damages someone's character.
15. ___ Arson ____setting fire to a building.
16. ____ Robbery ___stealing something by using force or threatening to use force.
17. ____ Theft ___stealing, taking property which belongs to someone else.
18. ____ Smuggling ___taking goods illegally into or out of a country.
19. ___ Perjury ____telling lies when you have sworn an oath to say what is true in court.
20. ___ Espionage ____trying to find out secrets by illegal means.
21. ___ Embezzlement ____using illegally or stealing money which you are looking after for
someone else.
22. ___ Libel ____writing, publishing or broadcasting a statement which damages
someone’s character.
Extension. Work with a partner and test each other. One person turns the page over, the other asks
questions. "What do you call the crime of acting in such a way as to make someone believe he or she
will be hurt". Define “treason”.

1.10. Below are 9 statements by defendants. Read the statements and say what crime
has each one been accused of.
1. "I arrived home late and found that I'd forgotten my keys. I didn't want to wake my wife up, and I
saw there was a ladder in the garden of the house next door. I got the ladder and climbed in. We've just
moved house and I didn't realise I was in the wrong street...”
2. "I was walking my dog when I saw the gun lying on the ground. I picked it up. It was still warm, and
at that moment I saw the body lying in the long grass. I went across to look and it was my business
partner. That's when the police arrived...”
3. "I opened the bank account in a false name as a way to help my employer pay less tax. It's perfectly
legal. I kept meaning to tell him, but somehow I just forgot. I bought the villa in France with my own
money. It was an inheritance...”
4. "OK, so there are a hundred and twenty-three copies of Four Weddings and a Funeral. That's
perfectly true, but I had no intention of selling them. I'm a collector.”
5. "I didn't know she was still alive, I thought she'd died in a car accident. I couldn't believe it when I
saw her walk into the room. Surely you don't think I did this just to get your money...”?
6. "You misunderstand me. When I offered him the money I meant it as a gift. I know that life can be
difficult for a young man on a police salary, especially if he has a family, young children etcetera. It isn't
easy and I know that. I just wanted to help. I didn't expect him to do anything in return...”
7. "After leaving the office I realised I'd forgotten my umbrella. I went back in to get it. When I went in
I noticed that the photocopier was still turned on. It had been working very badly all day, and I decided
to quickly see what was wrong with it before going home. I made a few test copies of documents that
were in the office. I didn't even look at what I was copying. The machine seemed to be working much

13
better. I put the copies in my briefcase - intending to use the other side as notepaper. I don't believe in
wasting paper. At that moment Mr. Sanders came out of his office...”
8. "I painted them for pleasure. I had no intention of deceiving people. I never said they were by other
people. Yes, I did include the signatures of other artists but that's because I wanted them to be perfect
copies...”
9. "Mr Wills sent me the money to help me in my business venture . I'm trying to start a design agency.
He sent me cheques every month for $1200. A couple of times he sent extra when I had special
expenses. It was always understood that he would participate in the profits of the business when it was
running. We didn't write anything down, it was an oral agreement. The photographs I have of him with
his secretary have no connection with these payments”.

Role-Play
There have been a string of bank robberies in the local area recently. The police are investigating
the crimes and making the photofits of the suspects.
Work in pairs. Each pair should consist of a police inspector and a witness.
STEP 1. The police inspector is questioning the eyewitness to find out all the necessary details o f the
suspect's appearance. (Look at the below list of adjectives used for describing a person).
STEP 2. Using the information obtained they make u p a photofit by completing the drawings below

FACE — long, round, oval, thin, plump, fleshy, puffy, wrinkled, pasty, pimpled, pock-marked, clean-
shaven
FEATURES — clean-cut, delicate, forceful, regular / irregular, large, small, stern
COMPLEXION — fair, pale, dark, sallow
HAIR — curly, wavy, straight, receding (scanty), rumpled, shoulder-length, medium-length, short-cut,
crew-cut, bobbed, dyed, bald, fair /dark-haired
FOREHEAD — high, low, narrow, square, broad
EYES — hollowed, bulging, close-set, deep-set, sunken, wide-apart, crossed-eyed
EYEBROWS — thin, thick, bushy, arched, pencilled, shaggy
EARS — small, big, jug-eared
NOSE — prominent, straight, pointed, hooked, flat, aquiline, snub-nosed
LIPS — full, thin, painted, cleft lip
TEETH — even / uneven, sparse, artificial
CHEEKS — plump, hollow, ruddy, stubby
CHIN — square, pointed, double, massive, protruding
BEARD — full, bushy, spade beard, grey-bearded, heavy-bearded
MOUSTACHE — thin, thick, tooth brush
HEIGHT — tall, short, of medium height
14
BUILT — average, medium built, well-built, plump, skinny
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES — birth marks, freckles, scars, wooden leg, humpback, pot-belly
Case study
Law life situation and its solving:
Problem:
The accused is a doctor who gave an overdose to an 87-year-old woman. She had a terminal
illness, was in constant pain and had asked for the overdose. Her family is accusing the doctor of
murder.
1. Comment on the doctor’s actions.
2. How would you behave being in the doctor’s place?
3. If you were a judge what sentence would you give to such kind of doctor?
4. How do you find the family’s decision of accusing the doctor of murder?

Creative Writing

Imagine that you were an eye-witness of a crime scene. Now you are at a police station and
you are asked to make a photofit. After creating the photofit you should put down all the
features of the criminal.

Time for fun


The judge asked a murder on trial: “Why did you break into the house and taking the box with jewels,
return to kill the owner?”
“I did it out of respect for the written word”,-pleaded the defendant. “What do you mean?”- “It was
written on the box:”Open after my death”.

Final Vocabulary Record Sheet

WORD TRANSL NOTES
. Definition, example...

15
16