lawbreakers
Those who transgress
Lawbreakers are people who violate laws—criminals, offenders, those who act outside legal boundaries.
The term appears often in political rhetoric emphasizing law and order: We need to get tough on lawbreakers.
It's neutral enough for journalism but carries a prosecutorial tone, framing subjects primarily through their illegal acts rather than circumstances.
Serious crime offenders
- convictsImprisoned felons
- offendersThose who commit wrongs
- culpritsThose at fault
- perpetratorsThose who commit wrongs
wrongdoers · delinquents · transgressors · miscreants · malefactors · fugitives · inmates · thieves
Armed robbers, often roving
- highwaymenArmed roadside robbers
- piratesMaritime thieves and raiders
- brigandsRoving armed robbers
- rustlersThose who steal livestock
bootleggers · moonshiners · poachers · buccaneers · raiders · desperados · gunslingers · bushrangers
Judicial proceedings chamber
- verdictOfficial court decision
- juryLegal decision-making body
- judgeOne who decides
- trialJudicial examination of claims
prosecution · defense · defendant · testimony · conviction · acquittal · sentencing · evidence
Confinement in jail
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- finesMonetary sanctions or particles
- probationSupervised trial period
- paroleConditional early release
penalties · detention · custody · rehabilitation · restitution · sanctions · prison · penitentiary
Unlawful taking of property
- burglaryIllegal entry to commit crime
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
vandalism · assault · kidnapping · trafficking · forgery · larceny · robbery · shoplifting
Political objectors
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
- revolutionariesThose seeking systemic overthrow
- radicalsAdvocates for fundamental change
- activistsPeople working for causes
protesters · agitators · mutineers · insurrectionists · subversives · anarchists · separatists · defectors
felons
Serious crime offenders
perpetrators · wrongdoers · delinquents · transgressors · miscreants · malefactors · fugitives · inmates · thieves · burglars
bandits
Armed robbers, often roving
- highwaymenArmed roadside robbers
- piratesMaritime thieves and raiders
- brigandsRoving armed robbers
rustlers · bootleggers · moonshiners · poachers · buccaneers · raiders · desperados · gunslingers · bushrangers · yakuza
courtroom
Judicial proceedings chamber
trial · prosecution · defense · defendant · testimony · conviction · acquittal · sentencing · evidence · witness
incarceration
Confinement in jail
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- finesMonetary sanctions or particles
- probationSupervised trial period
parole · penalties · detention · custody · rehabilitation · restitution · sanctions · prison · penitentiary · correctional
theft
Unlawful taking of property
- burglaryIllegal entry to commit crime
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
arson · vandalism · assault · kidnapping · trafficking · forgery · larceny · robbery · shoplifting · smuggling
dissidents
Political objectors
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
- revolutionariesThose seeking systemic overthrow
- radicalsAdvocates for fundamental change
activists · protesters · agitators · mutineers · insurrectionists · subversives · anarchists · separatists · defectors · resistance
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
lawbreakersconformists
Those obeying social norms
straight arrows · pillars of the community · civilians · innocents
lawbreakerslawmen
Official crime fighters
law enforcement · police officers · police · sheriffs · cops