Who is who in the law? If you are prosecuted for a crime in Britain, you may meet the following people during your process through the courts:
Magistrates. Magistrates are unpaid judges, usually chosen from well-respected people in the local community. They are guided on points of law by an official, the clerk. There are magistrates’ courts in most towns.
Solicitors. After the accused person has been arrested, the firstperson he or she needs to see is a solicitor. Solicitors are qualified lawyers who advise the accused and help prepare the defence case. The solicitor may represent the accused in court. A person who is too poor to afford a solicitor will usually get Legal Aid - financial helpfrom the state.
Barristers. In more serious cases it is usual for the solicitor to hire a barrister to defend the accused. The barrister is trained in the law and in the skills required to argue a case in court. The barrister for the defence will be confronted by his or her opposite number, the prosecuting barrister who represents the state.
Jurors. A jury consists of twelve men and women from the local community. They sit in the Crown Court, with a judge, and listen towitnesses for the defence and prosecution before deciding whether the accused is guilty or innocent. In Britain the person is innocent unless found guilty: the prosecution has the burden of establishing guilt.
Judges. Judges are trained lawyers, nearly always ex—barristers, who sit in the Crown Court (and appeal courts). The judge rules on points of law, and makes sure that the trial is conducted properly. He or she does not decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused - that is the jury’s job. However, if the jury find the accused guilty, then the judge will pass sentence.
Coroners. Coroners have medical or legal training (or both) and inquire into violent or unnatural deaths.
Clerks of the court. Clerks look after administrative and legal matters in the courtroom.
Sentencing. The most common sentences are fines, prison and probation. Probation is used often with more minor offences. A person on probation must report to a local police station at regular intervals, which restricts his or her movement. A sentence of community service means that the convicted person has to spend several hours a week doing useful work in his locality.
A few more facts. Children under 10 cannot be charged with a criminal offence.
Offenders between 10 and 17 are tried by special juvenile courts.
The death penalty technically still exists in Britain for some rare offences, such as treason, but is no longer used.
The punishment for murder is a life sentence. This can be much less than a lifetime in prison, depending on factors such as good behaviour.
The most common punishment for crimes - 80 per cent of the total-is a fine.
WORDS AND PHRASES
Magistrate [′mæd 3 istrit] - мировий суддя
to accuse [ə′kju:z] - обвинувачувати
defence [di′fens] - захист
to hire [′haіə] - наймати
to argue [′a:gju:] - обговорювати; заперечувати (оспорювати)
innocent [′məsnt] - невинний
burden [′bə:dn] - тягар доказу
prison [′prizn] -тюрма, в’язниця
probation [prə′bei∫ən] - умовне засудження (осудження)
restrict [ris′trikt] - обмежувати
treason [′tri:zn] — зрада
rare [гεə] – рідкісний
EXERCISES
1. Fill in the blanks:
1. Magistrates are unpaid....
2. There are... courts in most towns.
3. Solicitors are qualified....
4. Solicitors advise the... and help prepare the defence case.
5. If the case is serious, the solicitor hires a... to defend the accused.
6. The prosecuting barrister represents a....
7. A jury consists of... men and women from local community.
8. A jury sits in the Crown Court and listens to... for the defence and prosecution.
9. A jury decides whether the accused is... or....
10. Judges are trained... who sit in the Crown Court.
11. The judge will pass... if the jury find the accused....
12. The most common... are fines, prison and probation.
13. A person on... must report to a local police station at regular intervals.
14. Children under 10 cannot be... with a criminal....
15. Offenders between 10 and 17 are tried by....
16. The punishment for murder is a life....
17. The most common punishment for crimes is a....
2. Read the following sentences and decide if they are true or false:
1. Juries sit in magistrates’courts.
2. Magistrates are legally qualified judges.
3. There are magistrates’ courts in most towns.
4. Solicitors are not legally qualified.
5. The solicitor represents the accused in court.
6. The state helps poorer suspects to pay for their defence.
7. Barristers are hired to defend the accused.
8. A jury consists of ten men and women from local community.
9. Barristers sit in the Crown Court and listen to witnesses for the defence and prosecution.
10. Crown Court judges decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused.
11. The judge passes sentence.
12. Children under 10 are tried by special juvenile courts.
13. The punishment for murder is a life sentence.
14. The most common punishment for crimes is probation.
3. Find words and expressions in the text which mean:
1. a public officer with authority to hear and decide cases in a law court;
2. say that smb has done wrong, broken the law, is to be blamed;
3. not guilty;
4. system when offenders are allowed to go unpunished for their first offence while they continue to live without further breaking of the law;
5. limit;
6. allow the use or services of smb for fixed payment;
7. body of twelve persons who give a decision on issues of fact in a case in a court of justice.
4. Answer the following questions:
1. Are magistrates legally qualified judges?
2. Who does the accused person need to see after he has been arrested?
3. Who may represent the accused in court?
4. In what cases does the solicitor hire a barrister?
5. How many people does a jury consist of?
6. Who has the right to decide whether the accused is guilty or innocent?
7. Where do judges sit?
8. Whose job is it to pass sentence?
9. What are the most common sentences?
10. What does a sentence of community service mean?
11. Can children under 10 be charged with a criminal offence?
12. Does the death penalty still exist in Britain?
13. What is the punishment for murder?
14. What is the most common punishment for crimes?
