San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
Following the horrific Brown University shooting spree, police quickly released photos of an individual they called a person of interest. Tips from the public led to a quick apprehension, and that man was held and released in a matter of hours. Just four days later, another video was released, with the expectation that the public could again assist law enforcement in getting in touch with this new individual, identified as a person of interest. It all resulted in lots of public dialogue about the mysterious person in the video and about what it means to be a person of interest.
Legal Terminology Worth Understanding: In terms of criminal law, most Americans are pretty well acquainted with much of the lingo thanks to the many TV shows and movies on the subject. But being aware of the language and truly understanding it can often be two very different things. Let’s take a look at some common terms used in the world of law enforcement:
- A Person of Interest: Although it’s not a legal term, a person of interest is a casual reference to a person that law enforcement would like to talk to about the facts of a particular case. It’s a term that helps police and other law enforcement agencies to gather intelligence without the need to formally accuse that person. Additionally, police do not need probable cause, which is required to make an arrest. Eventually, that person may have information relevant to the case and might later become a witness, an accomplice, or a suspect.
- An Accomplice: An accomplice to a crime is a person who intentionally aids and abets someone else in committing a crime. Generally speaking, the accomplice can be held liable for the crime even if they were not directly involved, which means they could wind up with the same punishments as the principal in the crime.
- The Principals: The principal in the first degree is the person who actually committed the crime, while any accomplices who assisted or who were present are called principals in the second degree.
- The Suspect: A suspect, unlike a person of interest, is someone who is believed to be guilty of a crime based on evidence collected by law enforcement. Typically, police have reasonable grounds to believe that the suspect is the person responsible for the crime, even if they do not yet have enough to formally charge that person.
- Unsub: Unsub is another informal term that is shorthand for “unidentified subject.” It denotes a perpetrator of a crime whose identity remains unknown.
- Perp: A perp is 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 criminal defense attorney. At Boertje & Associates, we fight for the best possible outcomes for you. Schedule a confidential consultation in our San Diego office today.