perp walk
noun
plural perp walks
: the public escorting of an arrested individual (as from a courthouse to a police car) by law enforcement officials
Oh, the perp walk: A glorious American tradition in which a person not yet convicted of any crime is paraded handcuffed before the media as an instantly recognizable icon of guilt.—Chris Rovzar
Sheriffs sometimes put prisoners in orange during perp walks in front of reporters …—Christopher Beam
… U.S. District Court judge Allen G. Schwartz ruled that the so-called "perp walk" serves no legitimate law enforcement purpose other than to "humiliate" the defendant and "titillate" the public.—David Noack
At the perp walk, the federal prosecutor told the press that they were conducting "extensive discussions" about a plea bargain …—Carolyn Meinel
Cite this Entry
“Perp walk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perp%20walk. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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