Task 4. Match the verbs (1-6) with the nouns they collocate with in the text (a-f)

 

1.commit a. a suit

2. resolve b. an offender

3. bring c. a verdict

4. render d. a crime

5. sentence e. a sentence

6. suspend f. a dispute

 

Task 5. Look at each of the verb-noun pairs in Exercise 4 and, with a partner, take turns to discuss who typically carries out each of the actions: an offender, a victim, a lawyer, the court or a judge. For each collocation there is more than one possible answer.

 

Criminal law, sometimes (although rarely) called penal law, involves the prosecution by the state of a person for an act that has been classified as a crime. This contrasts with civil law, which involves private individuals and organizations seeking to resolve legal disputes. Prosecutions are initiated by the state through a prosecutor, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Some jurisdictions also allow private criminal prosecutions.

Depending on the offence and the jurisdiction, various punishments are available to the courts to punish an offender. A court may sentence an offender to execution, corporal punishment or loss of liberty (imprisonment or incarceration); suspend the sentence; impose a fine; put the offender under government supervision through parole or probation; or place them on a community service order.

Criminal law commonly proscribes – that is, it prohibits – several categories of offences: offences against the person (e.g. assault), offences against property (e.g. burglary), public-order crimes (e.g. prostitution) and business, or corporate, crimes (e.g. insider dealing).

Most crimes (with the exception of strict liability crimes such as statutory rape and certain traffic offences) are characterized by two elements: a criminal act (actus reus) and criminal intent (mens rea). To secure a conviction, prosecutors must prove that both actus reus and mens rea were present when a particular crime was committed.

In criminal cases, the burden of proof is often on the prosecutor to persuade the trier (whether judge or jury) that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of every element of the crime charged. If the prosecutor fails to prove this, a verdict of not guilty is rendered. This standard of proof contrasts with civil cases, where the claimant generally needs to show a defendant is liable on the balance of probabilities (more than 50% probable). In the USA, this is referred to as the preponderance of the evidence.

Some jurisdictions distinguish between felonies (more serious offences, such as rape) and misdemeanours (less serious offences, such as petty theft). It is also worth noting that the same incident may sometimes lead to both a criminal prosecution and an action in tort.

Task 6. Complete the extract below from a law textbook by using the verbs in the box.

are tried, is brought, is committed, is fined, is punished, is put, is resolved, was caused

 

A crime is a wrong which 1)________ against society. The wrongdoer 2)__________: he or she 3)_______________in prison or 4)_____________ a sum of money. A tort, on the other hand, is a wrong which 5)______________ against an individual. The injured party can sue the wrongdoer and receive damages from the court. Criminal sanctions exist to make society safer and to keep people from committing certain acts. Tort remedies exist to make the injured party whole again for the harm which 6)____________ by the wrongdoer.

A key difference between the two is that a crime required a criminal intent (mens rea), whereas a tort can result without intent to cause harm on the wrongdoer’s part.

Crimes 7)__________ in the criminal courts. An action 8)_____________ by a governmental body against the wrongdoer. A tort, conversely, 9)_____________ in the civil courts; the injured party brings an action against the wrongdoer.

Task 7.

Give a short presentation on the main differences between a crime and a tort. Include these points: the parties, the outcomes, the terminology and procedure and the standard of proof. Refer to your own jurisdiction in your presentation.

Task 8. Read the following newspaper headlines and decide what type of crime is being referred to:

terrorism, tax evasion, kidnapping, mugging, burglary, arson, drunken driving, armed robbery, murder, vandalism, theft, assault, hijacking, assassination.

 

1. FACTORY DESTROYED IN SUSPICIOUS BLAZE.

8. CHILD RUN OVER BY DRINK DRIVER.

 

2. PASSENGER HELD HOSTAGE* FOR 10 HOURS IN NIGHT OF TERROR.		9. THREE INJURED IN BANK HOLD UP*.
3. MILLIONAIRE ORDERED TO PAY £5 MILLION IN BACK TAXES.		10. PENSIONER ATTACKED AND ROBBED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

 

4. HOSTAGE RETURNED AS RANSOM PAID.

11. MAN SLAIN* IN HYDE PARK.

 

5. MEN ESCAPE WITH FAMILY HEIRLOOMS.

12. YOUTHS DESTROY TOWN HALL.

 

6. TEENS BEATEN UP AT ROCK CONCERT

13. 28 CARS STOLEN OVER WEEKEND.

 

7. 7. PRESIDENT KILLED BY SINGLE BULLET

14. GUNMAN FORCES PILOT TO LAND IN DESERT

 

*hostage - заложник

*slay (slew, slain) - убивать, уничтожать, лишать жизни

*hold up - останавливать с целью грабежа

Task 9. Underline the correct word:

1) Burglars broke in / broke into and stole all our jewellery.

2) The escaped prisoner evaded / assaulted capture for 3 month until they found his hideout.

3) They say that Robin Hood robbed / intrudedthe rich and gave to the poor.

4) The gang held up the bank and robbed / stole£5 million.

5) The terrorists decided to kidnap / slaughterall the hostages if their demands were refused.

6) Three youths mugged / shopliftedthe old man in the street and took his wallet and watch.

7) He tore the clothes off the girl and trapped / rapedher.

8) He was arrested while trying to smuggle / forgedrugs into the country.

 

Task 10. Underline the correct item:

 

1) If you don’t want someone to burgle / steal your house, you should keep the doors and windows locked.

2) He keeps his bicycle securely chained so that no one will steal / rob it.

3) Two men attempted to burgle / rob the local bank, but the police arrived before they got away.

4) Instead of fining the man, the judge sent him to prison because he was a repeat offender / convict.

5) That terrorist is one of the world’s most wanted criminals / suspects.

6) The offender / suspect was set free because there was no evidence to prove that he was guilty.

7) The suspect / convict had been in prison for twenty years when he died.

 

Task 11. Fill in the blanks using the given words:

 

A. Words: detention, drug trafficking, juvenile, reduce, victims of crime, firearms, unarmed, prevent, found guilty, persistent offenders, fraud, robbery, terrorist activities.

 

The criminal justice system aims to 1)........... and 2)........... crime, to deal fairly with those suspected or accused of crimes, to help 3).................. and to punish suitably those 4).................

The proceeds from serious crime such as 5)................, 6)............. and

7)....... may be confiscated by the courts. The Government has certain exceptional powers for dealing with and preventing 8).......... These take account of the need to achieve a balance between the safety of the public and the rights of the individual. 9)....... must be licensed and their possession is closely regulated.

Law enforcement is carried out by 52 locally based police forces, with a combined strength of about 160,000. Police officers are normally 10)........., and police powers of arrest and11).............. are regulated by statutory codes of practice. The police service is increasingly involved in international cooperation against crime. The Government is taking steps to tackle the increase in 12)......... crime. For example, it plans to establish secure accommodation for 13)........ under 15.

B. Words: trial, magistrates, bail, charged, accused, evidence, innocence, pleaded, detained, custody

 

The man 1)............... of kidnapping the wealthy heiress Christine Moore appeared yesterday before 2)................ and was formally 3)............. with the crime. He 4)............ not guilty but was denied 5)........... The man, James Clarke, 27, will be 6)........... in police 7)............ until his 8)............., which is expected to begin in September. Mr Clarke claimed in a statement yesterday that he did not kidnap Miss Moore and that there was no 9)........ to support the charge, adding that he was confident that his 10)............. would be made clear.