Glossary of Criminology

Overview

• This document provides definitions for 51 key terms related to criminology and the legal system.
• Terms include concepts from law, elements of crimes, defenses, and various legal principles.

Key Terms and Definitions

Legal Concepts

1. Law

   • Definition: The collection of rules imposed by authority.

2. Excuse

   • Definition: A defense of some offensive behavior.

3. Motive

   • Definition: The reason that arouses action toward a desired goal.

4. Elements

   • Definition: Violent or severe weather (likely a typo, context suggests legal elements of a crime).

5. Defense

   • Definition: The act of defending someone or something against attack.

Criminal Offenses

6. Fraud

   • Definition: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another person.

7. Conspiracy

   • Definition: A plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act.

8. Treason

   • Definition: A crime that undermines the offender's government.

9. Offense

   • Definition: A failure to show regard for others.

10. Precedent

    • Definition: An example that is used to justify similar occurrences.

Legal Defenses and Doctrines

11. Justification

    • Definition: The act of defending or explaining by reasoning.

12. Negligent

    • Definition: Characterized by undue lack of attention or concern.

13. Mitigate

    • Definition: Lessen or try to lessen the seriousness or extent of.

14. Incompetent

    • Definition: Not qualified or suited for a purpose.

Legal Terms

15. Inducement

    • Definition: A positive motivational influence.

16. Conflagration

    • Definition: A very intense and uncontrolled fire.

17. Common Law

    • Definition: A law established by following earlier judicial decisions.

18. Felony

    • Definition: A serious crime, such as murder or arson.

19. Collateral

    • Definition: Accompanying; following as a consequence.

20. Concurrence

    • Definition: The property of two things happening at the same time.

21. Espionage

    • Definition: The systematic use of spies to obtain secrets.

22. Jurisprudence

    • Definition: The branch of philosophy concerned with the law.

23. Substantive

    • Definition: Having a firm basis in reality and therefore important.

24. Civil Law

    • Definition: The legal code of ancient Rome.

25. Lewd

    • Definition: Suggestive of or tending to moral looseness.

26. Culpable

    • Definition: Deserving blame or censure as being wrong or injurious.

27. Misdemeanor

    • Definition: A crime less serious than a felony.

28. Self-Defense

    • Definition: The act of defending yourself.

29. Alibi

    • Definition: Proof that someone accused of a crime could not have done it.

30. Infraction

    • Definition: A crime less serious than a felony.

31. Criminal Law

    • Definition: The body of law dealing with crimes and their punishment.

32. Lascivious

    • Definition: Driven by lust.

33. Rule Of Law

    • Definition: A state of order in which events conform to the law.

34. Penal Code

    • Definition: The legal code governing crimes and their punishment.

35. Tort

    • Definition: A wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought.

Conclusion

• This glossary is a helpful resource for understanding basic criminology terms and legal principles.
• It covers a wide range of subjects relevant to both the field of law and criminology.