crime & crime prevention library

 

Crime and Crime Prevention is a challenge for every government and society. Learn more about how governments deal with crime, criminals and crime prevention.

Featured Article:  How the Future Crime Database Will Work

The police knock on your door, and a knot forms in your stomach when you're told the reason for the handcuffs: You're being arrested for a crime you haven't committed -- yet. See more »

Fry, Elizabeth Gurney

Fry, Elizabeth Gurney (1780–1845), an English prison reformer. She married Joseph Fry in 1800.

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Gangs

Gangs, groups of persons who associate for social or criminal purposes. The term street gangs is often used to refer to criminal gangs in inner cities.

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Guillotine

Guillotine, a machine for beheading persons condemned to death. The device was introduced during the French Revolution at the suggestion of Dr.

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Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus, a writ (written order) issued by a judge ordering that a person being held in custody be brought into court to determine whether he or she is being held lawfully.

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Hanging

Hanging, a method used to put persons to death as punishment for serious crimes.

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Hijacking

Hijacking, the forcible seizure of an aircraft, ship, train, or motor vehicle in transit.

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Homicide

Homicide, in law, any killing of one person by another. The word is from the Latin, and means “man-killing.” Homicide may be felony (a crime) or may be justifiable or excusable.

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Hoover, J. Edgar

Hoover, J. (John) Edgar (1895–1972), a United States public official. As director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its predecessors from 1924 until his death in 1972, he was the nation's chief law enforcement official for nearly 50 years.

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Hostage

Hostage, a person held in captivity to assure that an agreement is observed or to coerce another party into taking (or not taking) some action.

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Howard, John

Howard, John (1726?–1790), an English prison reformer. Howard first became interested in prison reform when he was captured by the French during wartime and imprisoned in a dungeon.

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Identity Theft

Identity Theft, a crime in which a person obtains someone else's personal information and uses it to commit fraud or deception.

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Incest

Incest, sexual intercourse between close family members other than husband and wife.

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Indictment

Indictment, a formal written accusation, drawn up by a prosecutor and made by a grand jury, against a person suspected of some crime.

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Interpol

Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization), a cooperative association of more than 170 national law-enforcement agencies.

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Intimidation

Intimidation, in law, the illegal use of threats or violence to force a person to do or not to do a certain act.

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Irish Republican Army (IRA)

Irish Republican Army (IRA), a revolutionary organization whose objective is to create a united Ireland independent of British rule.

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Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile Delinquency, the violation of laws or ordinances by a person who is legally classified as a juvenile, or youth, rather than an adult.

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Kidnapping

Kidnapping, in law, the act of taking away and holding a person without his or her consent.

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Larceny

Larceny, in law, a form of theft. It involves (1) the taking and carrying away of personal property, without consent of the owner, by a person not entitled to possession of the property; and (2) intent to deprive the owner of the use of the property and make it available for use by the thief.

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Leavenworth Prison

Leavenworth Prison, a federal penitentiary. It is on the grounds of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, an army post.

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