Legal English and English for Criminology

Before you start:

Use a dictionary to translate (into English):

derecho(s)
la Ley
ley(es)

Complete the following phrases with appropriate terms:

1. One of the subjects we studied in third year of our degree is Criminal ___________.
2. This year, in fourth year, we will also be studying Criminal Procedural ___________.
3. Human _________ are universal, although may be interpreted differently at different
times and by different jurisdictions.
4. The French Declaration of the __________ of Man (1793) contains the idea that
human ___________ stand higher than mere __________: Any __________ which
violates the inalienable _________ of man is unjust and tyrannical
5. The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human ___________ in
1948.
6. A human __________ may be in conflict with the __________. For example, if
everyone has the __________ to liberty and security of the person, how can judicial
systems imprison people who break the ________? Is it _______ to lock people up?

Individual work: You will be given a list of crime vocabulary. Using a reliable dictionary (e.g.
WordReference / Collins) make sure you understand the terms, and know how to use them
(Notice how they are used in typical sentences: collocation is important).

Prepare to teach the words to your classmates next lesson.

Some questions:

How are your vocabulary items related? What do they have in common? Do any have the
same meaning? Are there any odd ones out? Are there any problems with spelling /
pronunciation? Any false friends?

Which ones seem more / less serious?

Have you ever been the victim of any of them?

What would you call the person who commits these acts / offences?
 List 1 List 2
Assassination Acts against the natural
Assisting suicide environment
Causing death by Acts against property
dangerous driving Arson
Infanticide Breaking and entering
Manslaughter Criminal damage
Murder Physical damage to public
Unlawful killing property
Vandalism

List 3 List 4

Avoiding payment for services Assault

Burglary Attempted murder
Larceny of a vehicle
Grievous bodily harm
Pickpocketing
Human trafficking
Robbery
Neglect
shoplifting
Theft Sexual assault
Wounding
Essential (but confusing) English law-related vocabulary:

trial, court, judge (n also a verb), charge, sentence, to prosecute, to charge, to plead, to
convict / acquit,

Word building

Use a dictionary to complete the table.

VERB NOUN NOUN- person ADJECTIVE

To try
A judge
To charge
A sentence
prosecution
To defend
To plead
acquittal
convict

Notice the collocations of noun / verb, verb / noun, verb / adjective, and the appropriate
prepositions in phrases taken from texts + dictionaries:
A murder was committed in this house several decades ago

There was an armed robbery at the bank today.

He was convicted of drunken driving

We always prosecute thieves.

Shoplifters will be prosecuted.

Translate 3 of the following phrases into Spanish:

Following his conviction for murder, the criminal was sentenced to life imprisonment.

+ 5 more

Write them on a separate piece of paper.

Pass them to another student to translate into English.