annoying police jargon
Here's part of a report on a crime recently sent out by a police department:
Two suspects knocked on the door and entered the victims' apartment with
pistols. One victim attempted to approach one of the suspects and was
struck in the nose causing a laceration. The suspects then removed
various electronic items from the apartment. The suspects then fled from
the area.
No, the people who knocked etc. aren't suspects. A suspect is a person whose identity is known and who is suspected, but not known, to have committed the crime. These guys, on the other hand, are known to have committed the crime, but their identity is unknown. They are therefore the opposite of suspects. They are thieves, robbers, crooks, criminals, and perpetrators, but not suspects.
If the cops pick up two guys who they think are these guys, then they'll have suspects in custody. The trial is what is supposed to determine whether suspects = perpetrators.
Both suspects were black males wearing ski masks. One suspect was
described as tall wearing a green sweatshirt. The other suspect was
described as short and heavier wearing a gray sweatshirt.
Rather, both perpetrators were described as black males wearing ski masks. One perpetrator was described as tall wearing a green sweatshirt. The other perpetrator was described as short and heavier wearing a gray sweatshirt.
I see that Champaign County Crimestoppers gets their terminology right. But I hear the misused "suspects" all the time in the media.
Two suspects knocked on the door and entered the victims' apartment with
pistols. One victim attempted to approach one of the suspects and was
struck in the nose causing a laceration. The suspects then removed
various electronic items from the apartment. The suspects then fled from
the area.
No, the people who knocked etc. aren't suspects. A suspect is a person whose identity is known and who is suspected, but not known, to have committed the crime. These guys, on the other hand, are known to have committed the crime, but their identity is unknown. They are therefore the opposite of suspects. They are thieves, robbers, crooks, criminals, and perpetrators, but not suspects.
If the cops pick up two guys who they think are these guys, then they'll have suspects in custody. The trial is what is supposed to determine whether suspects = perpetrators.
Both suspects were black males wearing ski masks. One suspect was
described as tall wearing a green sweatshirt. The other suspect was
described as short and heavier wearing a gray sweatshirt.
Rather, both perpetrators were described as black males wearing ski masks. One perpetrator was described as tall wearing a green sweatshirt. The other perpetrator was described as short and heavier wearing a gray sweatshirt.
I see that Champaign County Crimestoppers gets their terminology right. But I hear the misused "suspects" all the time in the media.