post-crime
Following the transgression
Post-crime describes the period or circumstances after a crime has been committed: post-crime investigation, post-crime cleanup services.
The term appears in discussions of criminal justice—rehabilitation, restitution, victim support—everything that follows the criminal act itself.
In speculative fiction, post-crime sometimes contrasts with "pre-crime," the controversial idea of predicting and preventing crimes before they occur.
Crime fiction identifying perpetrator
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
- culpritPerson found guilty
mystery · cozy mystery · hardboiled · plot twist · suspense · thriller · noir · procedural
Penalty for an offense
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
- prisonConfinement for offenders
- jailDetention facility
parole · probation · restitution · fine · community service · conviction · penalty · correctional facility
Official court decision
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- appealFormal review request
adjudication · clemency · judiciary · jurisprudence · prosecution · defense · plea bargain · restitution
Facts supporting truth
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
toxicology · trace evidence · blood spatter · fibers · samples · swabs · luminol · serology
Professional crime investigator
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- arrestSeize by law
- witnessOne who attests
alibi · motive · confession · manhunt · surveillance · tip · informant · lineup
whodunit
Crime fiction identifying perpetrator
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
culprit · mystery · cozy mystery · hardboiled · plot twist · suspense · thriller · noir · procedural · cold case
punishment
Penalty for an offense
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
- prisonConfinement for offenders
jail · parole · probation · restitution · fine · community service · conviction · penalty · correctional facility · rehabilitation
verdict
Official court decision
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
appeal · adjudication · clemency · judiciary · jurisprudence · prosecution · defense · plea bargain · restitution · fairness
evidence
Facts supporting truth
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- autopsyMedical examination after death
ballistics · toxicology · trace evidence · blood spatter · fibers · samples · swabs · luminol · serology · pathology
detective
Professional crime investigator
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- arrestSeize by law
witness · alibi · motive · confession · manhunt · surveillance · tip · informant · lineup · warrant
post-crimepre-crime
Punishing anticipated wrongdoing
pre-emptive · preventive · anticipatory · proactive · predictive
post-crimecrime prevention
Stopping offenses before occurrence
deterrence · predictive policing · early intervention · prophylactic · precautionary
post, crime, precrime, crimes, criminal, criminality, criminalize, criminalization, criminally