severity of crime

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severity of crime" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the seriousness or gravity of a criminal act in legal, academic, or general contexts. Example: "The severity of crime in urban areas has prompted local authorities to implement stricter law enforcement measures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Despite rises in some offences, such as those involving child pornography and drugs, the overall volume and severity of crime reported to the police has been falling steadily.

The Economist

This enables the researchers to analyze the events in terms of the number of people involved, the severity of crime, and the type of the verdict.

Security Informatics

Even when controlling for type and severity of crime, and for psychiatric problems, risk of criminal relapse was increased by substance use variables, including amphetamine, heroin and polysubstance use, and an additional risk was shown for injection drug users.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In any event, except when talking about, say, mail fraud, the notion that the comparative severity of crimes can be measured by the number of papers signed beforehand is a strange one (murderers don't usually sign non-murder agreements).

The New Yorker

Second, countries that care deeply about justice should press the Security Council to end the hypocrisy and to make I.C.C. referrals based on the severity of crimes — and not on the allegiances of the perpetrators.

The New York Times

The police union, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, has charged that precinct commanders feel such intense pressure to drive down crime that they "cook the books," reducing the severity of crimes on paper to avoid recording them among the seven index crimes reported to the F.B.I.

The New York Times

The number of legal issues presented is likely to increase with the number of persons charged, the number and severity of crimes charged, and the severity of potential penalties upon conviction.

Security Informatics

The ranking takes both volume and severity of crimes into account.

Vice

External actors and international organizations should contribute to the efforts of supporters of domestic violence legislation in Pakistan by drawing attention to the increase in gender-based violence and escalating severity of crimes as well as explicitly raising the profile of the legislation, which has largely disappeared from the radar of international media.

Huffington Post

Finally, the third aim of the present study was to analyze the association of specific offense characteristics such as sexual offenses vs. non-sexual offenses as well as the severity of crimes on internalizing and externalizing problems, depressive symptoms and self-esteem.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

"I will not rest until the consequence for the crime meets the severity of the crime itself – for my daughter and all other young unsuspecting girls".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal matters, use "severity of crime" to objectively assess the impact and appropriate consequences. For example: "The sentence should reflect the severity of crime committed."

Common error

Avoid assuming that high crime rates automatically indicate greater severity. A high frequency of minor offenses doesn't equate to the severity of crime seen in isolated, heinous acts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severity of crime" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the degree of seriousness or gravity associated with a criminal act. Ludwig examples showcase its use in discussions about sentencing, legal assessments, and crime statistics.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "severity of crime" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe the seriousness or magnitude of a criminal act. Ludwig AI confirms this, highlighting its use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal settings. While semantically similar alternatives like "seriousness of crime" or "gravity of the crime" exist, this phrase provides a clear and objective way to discuss the impact and consequences of criminal behavior. As such, it plays a vital role in legal, academic, and public policy discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seriousness of crime

Emphasizes the gravity and importance of the crime.

seriousness of the offense

Similar to "seriousness of crime", but uses "offense" as a synonym.

magnitude of crime

Focuses on the scale and extent of the criminal activity.

gravity of the crime

Highlights the weight and significance of the offense.

degree of criminality

Refers to the level or extent of criminal behavior involved.

weight of the crime

Similar to "gravity", emphasizing the burden and significance.

level of criminality

Indicates the degree or stage of criminal behavior.

extent of criminal activity

Focuses on the scope and range of the criminal behavior.

impact of crime

Highlights the effect and consequences of the crime.

intensity of crime

Focuses on the strength and force of the criminal acts.

FAQs

How is the "severity of crime" typically measured?

The "severity of crime" is often measured by factors such as the harm caused to victims, the use of violence, the economic impact, and the potential sentence under the law.

What factors influence the perceived "severity of crime"?

Public perception of the "severity of crime" can be influenced by media coverage, personal experiences, and community norms, which may not always align with legal definitions.

How does the "severity of crime" affect sentencing?

The "severity of crime" is a primary factor in determining the appropriate sentence, with more severe crimes typically resulting in harsher penalties. Judges consider this alongside other factors such as prior criminal history and mitigating circumstances.

Are there alternatives to using the phrase "severity of crime"?

You can use alternatives like "seriousness of crime", "gravity of the crime", or "magnitude of crime" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.