Crime is a topic that gets students discussing real-world issues and social perspectives. These questions range from basic safety habits to deeper debates about justice and prevention.
Questions are organized by level from beginner to advanced. A printable PDF of all the questions is available at the bottom of the page.
Beginner (A1-A2)
- What are three things you do to stay safe in your city?
- What kind of crime shows or movies do you like? What’s a good one?
- Do you know anyone who works as a police officer or security guard? What do they do?
- What do people in your country do to keep their homes safe? (Locks, cameras, dogs, etc.)
- Do you feel safe walking alone at night in your city? What about during the day?
- What is the emergency number in your country? Have you ever had to call it?
- What are some common crimes in your city or town? (Stealing, vandalism, car break-ins, etc.)
- Do you lock your doors at night? What about your car?
- Is there a police station near your home? How far away is it?
- What do you carry with you to feel safe? (Keys, phone, pepper spray, etc.)
Elementary (A2)
- Is your country a safe country? What makes it safe or unsafe?
- Have you ever seen a crime? (Don’t talk about it if it’s too upsetting for you.)
- Is shoplifting common in your country? What kinds of things do people usually steal?
- Does your country have a big organized crime group like the mafia? What do you know about them?
- Have you ever met someone from a mafia? What do you think life in organized crime is really like?
- Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? What makes it safe or unsafe?
- What’s the most famous crime story from your country? What happened?
- Have you ever locked yourself out of your house or car? Tell me about it.
- Where do you keep your wallet or purse when you are in a crowded place? Why there?
- Have you ever lost something because someone stole it? What happened?
- Do you feel safe walking alone at night? Why or why not?
- Have you ever seen a security camera catch someone doing something wrong? What did you see?
- Are there any places in your city you avoid? Why?
- Have you ever known someone who went to prison? What happened to them?
- What do you do to stay safe when you travel? Why?
- What’s the scariest crime story you’ve ever heard? Tell me about it.
- How often have you changed your daily habits because of crime concerns? What specific things did you change?
Intermediate (B1)
- What do you think the most common crime in your country is? Why do you think it happens so much?
- Should police in your country be stricter or less strict? Why or why not?
- Do you think criminals can change? Why or why not?
- What is the best way for police to keep neighborhoods safe? What makes that approach better than others?
- Can you tell if a kid will grow up to be a criminal? Why or why not?
- What crimes worry people in your neighborhood the most? Why do you think that is?
- Do you think security guards actually stop crimes? Why or why not?
- Do you prefer living in a big city or a small town for safety? Why?
- Is there a lot of graffiti in your city? Do you think it’s art or a crime?
- Should teenagers who commit crimes be punished the same as adults? Why or why not?
- What do you think causes young people to join gangs? Give me some examples.
- If you could change one law in your country, what would it be and why?
- What makes some neighborhoods safer than others? How so?
- Do you think the death penalty stops people from committing serious crimes? Why or why not?
- Do you think the punishment for stealing should depend on what was stolen? How so?
- If a friend told you they did something illegal, what would you do? Why?
- Is it ever okay to break the law? If so, when?
- Do you think white-collar crimes like fraud are as serious as violent crimes? How so?
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
- Should there be cameras everywhere in public places? What are the upsides and downsides?
- How has the internet created new types of crime? What makes cybercrime harder to fight than traditional crime?
- How is the relationship between police and communities different now compared to 20 years ago? What do you think about those changes?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory minimum sentences for crimes?
- How does poverty affect crime rates? Is it fair to say that poor people commit more crimes? What are the problems with that argument?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of making prisoners work during their sentence?
- How do social media and smartphones change the way crimes are reported and investigated? What do you think about those changes?
- How has crime changed in the last 20 years? Are people actually less safe, or do we just hear about crime more because of the news and social media?
- What role does mental illness play in criminal behavior? How should the justice system respond differently?
- In some countries, the death penalty still exists. What are the strongest arguments for and against it?
Advanced (C1)
- How does growing up in a poor neighborhood affect a person’s chances of getting into trouble with the law, and what does that tell us about how fair the justice system really is?
- When someone gets out of prison, society expects them to start a new life, but often makes it nearly impossible. How do things like employment barriers, social stigma, and housing restrictions push former prisoners back into crime?
- When someone commits a crime because of poverty or desperation, at what point does understanding their circumstances become excusing their actions?
- How do mandatory reporting laws create tensions between professional ethics and legal obligations for doctors, teachers, and therapists?
- In some countries, the prison population keeps growing even as crime rates go down. What economic, political, and social forces drive this contradiction?
- Wealthy people who commit financial crimes often get lighter sentences than poor people who commit less serious offenses. What does this reveal about how money and social class shape the justice system?
- How do ‘tough on crime’ policies simultaneously address public fear and potentially increase the problems they claim to solve?
- Social media has made it possible for anyone to record and share crimes in real time. How has this changed the power dynamic between ordinary citizens, police, and the justice system?
- Some people argue that legalizing drugs would reduce crime, while others say it would create new problems. How do the experiences of countries that have tried this (like Portugal or the Netherlands) challenge our assumptions about the relationship between drugs and crime?
- Crime dramas and true crime podcasts are more popular than ever. How does our fascination with crime as entertainment affect the way we think about real victims, real criminals, and real justice?