Crime and punishment

re-offend

commit a crime again

mitigate

to make less severe

principal

most important

institution

a long-lasting pattern of organization in a community

serve the prison sentence

to carry out confinement in prison as a punishment

to release back into society

to give freedom to prisoners who have finished their sentences

to punish wrongdoers

to punish people who do something illegal

to be soft on crime

not to impose strict punishments on offenders

the full weight of the law

all the strictest punishments available according to the laws of a country.

to act as a deterrent

a measure which makes somebody less likely to do something

to make a fresh start

to try something new after making mistakes in one's life

hardened

having developed a way of dealing with bad experiences, so that they no longer upset you

to intimidate

To frighten, especially by threatening someone

inmate

one of the people living in an institution such as a prison or a mental hospital

to reintegrate back into the community

to restore someone into society through education or therapy

a chance of rehabilitation

a chance of helping someone to have a normal life after serving a prison sentence

an outcry against

a reaction of anger or strong protest shown by people in public

to segregate somebody

to separate people for some reason and treat them in a different way

separate

to set or keep apart

to allocate resources to

to make money and materials available to do something

convict

a person who is guilty of a crime and who has been sent to prison