Dictionary of Crime Terms

Description: 

Viva-Facts On File Dictionary of Crime Terms is the definitive guide to the language of the criminal world, explaining the words and phrases that crooks and felons use to describe themselves, their associates, their victims, and crimes. Some of the terms are in general use by the public, while others are exclusive to specific criminal settings and perpetrators.

Nearly 900 phrases and terms are covered, including

Chop shop n. A Mafia-dominated racket of auto repair facilities where stolen vehicles are dismantled and their parts sold separately

Kiss of death n. A kiss on the lips from a Mafioso to tell a victim his days are numbered

Omert •  n. The Mafia code of silence or, colloquially, "manliness"

Peacemakers n. A breed of highly efficient killers imported from Sicily by several Mafia families in the 1960s and 1970s

Sell down the river v. To double-cross or desert an associate. Thought to be derived from the slave owner's practice of breaking up slave families to obtain higher profits

And many others

Viva-Facts On File Dictionary of Crime Terms provides a provocative insight into the mentality that governs the criminal underworld. This unique reference is an indispensable addition to any library or home collection where organized crime and criminology are topics of interest.

Target Audience: 

Students of Criminology.