Criminal freed and put off (5)
I believe the answer is:
defer
'put off' is the definition.
(I know that put off can be written as defer)
'criminal freed' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates an anagram.
'freed' anagrammed gives 'DEFER'.
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for defer that I've seen before include "Put off till later" , "Postpone - submit" , "Hold back to a later time" , "Deal with later" , "Capitulate" .)