Understanding the Terminology in an Investigation

After the gruesome shooting spree at Brown University, police hastily released photos of a person named as a person of interest. Tips from the public led to a speedy capture of the man, who was held and released after a few hours. Four days later another video was released with the expectation that the public could again assist law enforcement in apprehending a different individual who’d been identified as a person of interest. Sharing information with the public resulted in community dialogue about the mysterious person in the video and about what it means to be a person of interest.

Knowing and Understanding

As relates to criminal law, most Americans are fairly well acquainted with a lot of the lingo thanks to a variety of investigative T.V. shows and movies. But being aware of the language and actually understanding it are not necessarily the same thing. So let’s take a look at some common terms used in the world of law enforcement:

A Person of Interest

It may surprise some to learn that a person of interest is not a legal term. In fact, it’s a casual reference to a person that law enforcement would like to chat with regarding a particular case. The term helps police and other law enforcement agencies to gather intelligence without having to formally accuse that person. They don’t need probable cause, which is required to make an arrest. Eventually a person of interest may have information relevant to the case and might even become a witness, an accomplice, or a suspect later.

An Accomplice

A person who knowingly aids and abets someone else in committing a crime is referred to as an accomplice.  Most of the time an accomplice can be held liable for the actual crime even if they were not directly involved. In other words, they could wind up with the same criminal penalties as the principal in the crime.

The Principals

A principal in the first degree is the person who really committed the crime, while any accomplices who assisted or who were present are referred to as principals in the second degree.

A Suspect

When law enforcement believes someone is guilty of a crime based on evidence accrued, that person is referred to as a suspect.  Police generally have reasonable grounds to believe that the suspect is the person responsible for the crime, even if they don’t yet have enough to formally charge that person.

An Unsub 

Unsub is another informal term that is shorthand for “unidentified subject.” It refers to a perpetrator of a crime whose identity remains unknown.

A Perp 

A perp is another informal term used to identify the person who actually committed the crime, short for perpetrator.

When an Investigation Points to You 

If law enforcement is looking at you and winds up charging you with a crime, it could change your life entirely. Your best bet is to hire a local, experienced Kissimmee and Orlando criminal defense attorney.  At Salazar & Kelly we fight for the best possible outcomes for you. Schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.