Which term describes a person who reports a crime, rather than one who is accused?

• A. Witness
• B. Complainant
• C. Confidential Source
• D. Victim

Answer: (B)

The person who reports a crime is described as the complainant, because this term captures the act of filing a formal complaint with authorities. It identifies who initiated the process by telling law enforcement about the alleged wrongdoing, rather than focusing on who was harmed or who witnessed it. A witness is someone who has information or observed the incident but isn’t necessarily the one who files the report. A confidential source provides information privately and isn’t defined by who reports. A victim is the person harmed by the crime, and while they may report it, the term emphasizes harm, not the act of reporting. So the complainant best fits the scenario of someone who reports the crime.