How crime gets measured, and what the measurement misses.
Practise this list
From these 27 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
The twenty-second entry is a taxa de reclusão, and the English word that looks ready for it is the one to leave alone. « Reclusion » does exist in English, and so do « recluse » and « reclusive », but every one of them describes somebody who has withdrawn from other people of their own accord: the recluse who stops answering the door, the reclusive writer who gives no interviews, a life of reclusion chosen and kept. No court is involved and no door is locked from outside. A reclusão is the opposite arrangement, confinement imposed on somebody by the state, so « the reclusion rate » would end up counting hermits. What this entry measures is how many people are held in prison per hundred thousand of the population, and English calls that « the imprisonment rate », or, in comparative work, « the incarceration rate ». Both of those name the act of shutting a person in, and neither has ever described a wish to be left alone. The trap is a quiet one precisely because the cognate is real and close to hand: it simply belongs to a different life.
A criminalidade registada depende de quem apresenta queixa.Recorded crime depends on who comes forward to report it.
a cifra negrathe dark figure of crimeNoun (f)C2
A cifra negra é maior nos crimes entre conhecidos.The dark figure is larger where the two parties know each other.
a taxa de denúnciathe reporting rateNoun (f)C2
A taxa de denúncia sobe quando o seguro exige queixa.The reporting rate rises when the insurer insists on a police report.
a taxa de esclarecimentothe detection rateNoun (f)C2
A taxa de esclarecimento diz pouco sobre a gravidade.The detection rate says little about how serious the offences were.
a taxa de criminalidadethe crime rateNoun (f)C2
A taxa de criminalidade é comparada por habitante.The crime rate is compared per head of population.
a reincidênciareoffendingNoun (f)C2
A reincidência é medida em janelas de tempo diferentes.Reoffending is measured over different windows of time.
a carreira criminalthe criminal careerNoun (f)C2
Uma carreira criminal raramente dura a vida toda.A criminal career rarely lasts a whole lifetime.
a teoria das atividades rotineirasroutine activity theoryNoun (f)C2
A teoria das atividades rotineiras junta alvo, autor e ausência de guarda.Routine activity theory brings together a target, an offender and the absence of a guardian.
a estrutura de oportunidadesthe opportunity structureNoun (f)C2
A estrutura de oportunidades explica onde o furto acontece.The opportunity structure explains where the theft happens.
a prevenção situacionalsituational preventionNoun (f)C2
A prevenção situacional muda o lugar, não a pessoa.Situational prevention changes the place, not the person.
a revista policialthe stop and searchNoun (f)C2
A revista policial deixa marcas na confiança de quem a sofre.A stop and search leaves marks on the trust of the person it falls on.
a justiça procedimentalprocedural justiceNoun (f)C2
A justiça procedimental conta mais do que o resultado.Procedural justice counts for more than the outcome does.
a legitimidadelegitimacyNoun (f)C2
A legitimidade da polícia mede-se pela disposição a colaborar.The legitimacy of the police is measured by the willingness to cooperate.
a eficácia coletivacollective efficacyNoun (f)C2
A eficácia coletiva descreve a disposição de intervir.Collective efficacy describes the readiness to step in.
a justiça restaurativarestorative justiceNoun (f)C2
A justiça restaurativa põe autor e vítima na mesma sala.Restorative justice puts the offender and the victim in the same room.
a orientação de determinação da penathe sentencing guidelineNoun (f)C2
A orientação de determinação da pena reduz as diferenças entre tribunais.The sentencing guideline narrows the differences between courts.
a taxa de reclusãothe imprisonment rateNoun (f)C2
A taxa de reclusão varia muito de país para país.The imprisonment rate varies a great deal from country to country.
a criminalidade económicaeconomic crimeNoun (f)C2
A criminalidade económica deixa poucos vestígios visíveis.Economic crime leaves few visible traces.
a criminalidade organizadaorganised crimeNoun (f)C2
A criminalidade organizada procura mercados, não confrontos.Organised crime looks for markets, not for confrontation.
a avaliação da medidathe evaluation of the measureNoun (f)C2
A avaliação da medida compara grupos parecidos.The evaluation of the measure compares groups that resemble each other.
