A criminal is a person who has committed a crime. Crime can involve theft, murder, burglary, robbery, vandalism, fraud, arson, sexual assault and other offences against other people or the environment.
Crime is often about greed, violence and revenge – all powerful human emotions. It can also reflect more serious problems in society such as drugs, homelessness and poverty. When reporting on crime, journalists must balance the public’s right to know with ethical considerations. This includes a commitment to accuracy and fairness, and avoiding sensationalism and prejudice.
Journalists must be particularly careful about the language they use when writing about crime. They should avoid using specialist terms such as ‘assailant’ and’murderer’ that are jargon-ridden and may confuse readers. They must also be careful about exaggerating the worst aspects of a story as this can lead to the public fearing crime more than they already do. There is a clear link between the way in which the media reports on crime and the level of fear in the general population.
A criminal case is an allegation by a government agency that an individual or company has violated the laws of a country. A criminal case may be resolved through a plea bargain or a trial. The standard for proving a case is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendants must have access to legal representation and the right to privacy. They must be given the opportunity to challenge evidence, and they cannot be tried twice for the same crime in a state or federal court, as per the Constitution’s protection against double jeopardy.
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