ESL Podcast 172 - Legal Problems

to be arrested - to be taken to jail, usually by the police, for breaking the law

The police arrested two women for robbing a bank.

to be charged - to be blamed or held responsible for committing a crime

He wasn't charged for the crime and the police let him go.

burglary - the act of entering a building or property without permission in order to steal

There was a burglary in the store over the weekend and all of the money was taken.

assault - to attack someone in order to hurt them

Those two men were fighting and one was arrested for assault.

security guard - a person hired to make sure everything and everyone stays safe and in order

The president has security guards with him wherever he goes.

to break into - to enter a place or get access to a thing illegally

The thieves broke into the house after everyone was asleep.

to steal - to take without permission something that belongs to someone else

Are those children trying to steal some candy?

to be arraigned - to go to court and tell the judge if you are guilty or innocent

She was arraigned in front of a very strict judge.

court - a government building with rooms (courtrooms) where a judge and, most of the time, a jury listen to lawyers during a trial

The lawyers arrived in court late and the judge was very angry.

prosecutor - a lawyer for the person who is accusing another person of doing something wrong or illegal

The prosecutor made a strong case and convinced everyone in court.

felony - a major illegal action usually punished by time in jail

You will have to go to jail if you are convicted of a felony in this state.

misdemeanor - a minor illegal action usually punished by a fine, not time in jail

It's only a misdemeanor so she shouldn't need to go to jail.

flight risk - a person who the court thinks would try to leave, without permission, the area where he/she was arrested and is on trial in order to avoid being charged and sentenced

The court took away his passport because he is a flight risk.

bail - a sum of money left with the court to make sure that a person released from jail comes back for the trial

If you don't make bail, you'll have to stay in jail until the trial.

to be found guilty - to be held responsible for committing a crime or doing something wrong

Did you hear that he was found guilty of burglary for stealing those paintings?

to be sentenced - to be given punishment by a court or judge for having committed a crime

I afraid that they will be sentenced to ten years in jail by the judge.

up to - not more than

I don't have a lot of money, but I can lend you up to $100.