The following vocabulary is useful for understanding and discussing punishment.

• Capital punishment (the death penalty) – being put to death by the state for crimes committed
• Incarcerated – a formal word meaning ‘to be put in prison’
• Suspended sentence – a person can be found guilty but their time in prison is delayed for a period of time. Often if a person has not broken the law within a given period, the prison time is dismissed.
• Maximum security – a prison where there prisoners are watched very closely and chances of escape are very low (compare this to minimum security prisons, which are generally more relaxed and reserved for lesser crimes)
• Damages – this is where the person or company accused of the crime is found guilty and required to pay money to the person / people they have wronged.