criminal record - an official record of crimes that a person has committed

life sentence - the punishment of being put in prison for a very long time, or, in the US, until death

repeat offender - a person who has been convicted of a crime on more than one occasion

petty crime - a type of crime that is not considered serious when compared with some other crimes

major crime - serious crime

community service - work done without payment to help other people. Criminals whose crime was not
serious enough for them to be put in prison are sometimes ordered to do community service

harsh punishment - the act of punishing someone; Harsh punishment includes the use of psychologically
aggressive and physically violent practices and these are considered violence against children or child
maltreatment

juvenile delinquent - a young person who commits crimes

crime prevention - a strategy that aims to reduce opportunities for criminal activity

get away with - do something bad without being punished or criticized for it
release from - let someone leave a place where they have been kept
accuse of - say someone is guilty but without any particular evidence
acquit - state officially that someone is not guilty
try by - judge a person or case in a court of law
sentence to - decide and say officially what a punishment will be
incarcerate - keep someone in prison
charge with - formally accuse (someone) of a crime