Why do we have law?
- Keep society in order
- Protect people/possessions
- For justice if laws are broken
Why do laws sometimes need to be changed?
- Technology advances
- Changing moral views
What is the rule of law?
Everyone must abide by the law of the land.
What are the main principles to be stuck to when applying the law?
- Innocent until proven guilty
- Equality above the law
- Access to he justice system for everyone
Where does law come from?
- Legislation (from parliament)
- From the EU
- Made by judges
- European Convention of Human Rights
What is criminal law?
Offences (eg. murder or drug dealing) that are heard in a Criminal court with a judge and jury.
What is civil law?
Disputes between individuals or groups of people that are heard in a Magistrates court.
What are mitigating factors?
Personal or financial factors into account before sentencing individuals who have been found guilty.
Who puts the law into practice?
- Judges
- Jury
- Solicitor
- CPS (Crown Prosecution Service)
- Magistrates
- Barristers
- Probation officers
What reasons are there to give sentences?
- Punish offender
- Protect public
- Serve justice to victim
- Reduce future crime
- Rehabilitation (change offenders behaviour)
What types of sentencing are there?
- Fines
- Community service
- Prison sentence
- Conditional discharge
What is the criminal age of responsibility in the UK?
10
Where are cases involving 10-17 year olds heard?
In a youth court
How can crime be reduced?
- Supporting children in deprived families/areas
- Reducing opportunities of crime
- Improving rehabilitation programs
- Increasing sentences
Why do people commit crimes?
- Low income/unemployment
- Lack of education
- Influence of drugs/alcohol
- Poor role models
- Deprived areas
- Family issues
