An alternative name to conceal identity

Alias

An explanation that removes a person from the scene of a crime

Alibi

A specific way of looking at the facts during an investigation

Angle

A statement that places blame

Accusation

The process where a suspect is officially arrested and charged with a crime

Booking

The investigation from start to finish

Case

The medical examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death

Autopsy

The specific crime a person is accused of

Charges

Indicative but not conclusive evidence

Circumstantial Evidence

Anything that sheds light on a particular case

Clue

The actual arrest by a police officer

Collar

The actual body that proves a murder has been committed

Corpus dilecti

Crime committed in rage, anger, hatred, revenge

Crime of passion

The actual criminal

Culprit

District Attorney

DA

Conclusion reached at the end of a case

Deduction

The argument made to show innocence

Defense

Material that will prove innocence or guilt

Evidence

Production of a body to hold a suspect

Habeus Corpus

Someone who actually observed who committed a crime

Eyewitness

Deliberate trap set to lay blame on an innocent person

Frame up

The act of murder

Homocide

Major crime-murder, armed robbery, rape

Felony

Detective’s right hand man

Foil

Deliberate intent to perform a crime

Premeditation

Intensive questioning of a suspect

Third degree

A trap set to catch a criminal

Set up

Official document containing information supplied by a witness

Statement

Private detective or detective

Private eye or Sleuth

A misleading clue

Red Herring

A guess or an instinct

Hunch

City government building that houses dead bodies kept during an investigation

Morgue

Something or someone that may move an investigation forward

Lead

Accidental killing

Manslaughter

Relays information to the police for money

Informer

Reason for committing a crime

Motive

The report from an autopsy

Post mortem

Offender or criminal

Perpetrator

Legal questioning

Inquest/Inquiry

Criminal was considering the crime before it occurred

Malice aforethought

Minor offenses

Misdemeanor

Attorney working for the DA

Prosecutor

Constant visual or electronic monitoring

Surveillance

Someone who may have committed a crime

Suspect

Criminal informer

Stool Pigeon

Plan criminal employs during his crimes

Modus Operandi

Person who is hurt or killed as a result of a criminal act

Victim