Who is defined as a person who reports a crime?

The term used to define a person who reports a crime is "Complainant." In legal contexts, the complainant is typically the individual who brings forth a complaint about a criminal act, indicating an allegation that a crime has occurred. This role is essential in the criminal justice process because it initiates the investigation and potential prosecution of the crime.

A victim is someone who has suffered harm as a result of the crime but does not necessarily report it. The defendant is the person accused of committing the crime, while a witness is someone who may have seen or heard something relevant to the crime but does not actively report it as their primary role. Understanding this distinction helps clarify each of these roles within the legal system and emphasizes the complainant's critical function in the reporting process.