Suspect is a person who is suspected of having committed a crime or offense. The word suspect is also used as a verb: to believe someone is guilty, often on very slight or unproven evidence. The police believed that the suspect was the person who had killed the child. When something is a bit suspicious, people are likely to suspect that it is not what it seems: The bad-smelling fish was certainly suspect. A mug shot is generally called a suspect but could be called a perpetrator, too. Once the suspect is bound over for trial, either by a prosecutor issuing an information or a grand jury issuing a true bill, they are called a defendant. See also Perpetrators, Accused, Defendant.
This article was originally published on 30 December 2013. It is reproduced here with the permission of the publisher.