Criminal Terminology

When a suspect is arrested, the police use handcuffs to restrain him or her. This practice is used by most law-enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Since crimes are offenses against all of society, it is society, in the form of the state or federal government, that brings the person who committed the crime to justice. That is why court cases are brought by the “People” or the “State.” The de- cision to take the case to trial is made, not by the victim, but by the state prosecutor or district attorney. After the police have investigated a case and found a suspect, they offer the case to the prosecutor, who decides if it is strong enough to go to trial.

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Types of Crime