criminal courts and lay people Flashcards

1
Q

what are the two criminal courts of first instance?

A

-the magistrates court
-the crown court

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2
Q

what are the three key criminal processes in the criminal courts system?

A

-being charged with a crime (bail and remand)
-trial in the magistrates courts and/or crown court
-the CPS

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3
Q

what happens when a person is charged with a crime?

A

-theyre given a charge sheet which outlines the offence(s) they’re being charged with
-police decide whether or not they can go home until the trial (bail) or should be kept in custody until their first hearing

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4
Q

what is bail?

A

a form of security, either a sum of money or a promise in exchange for the freedom of an arrested person, as a guarantee they will appear in court

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5
Q

what is a rebuttable presumption?

A

a conclusion that a judge will take in court unless the opposite point is raised and proven
-theres a rebuttable presumption that bail should be granted under s4 of the Bail Act 1976

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6
Q

who can issue bail?

A

the police, or any court which the defendant appears

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7
Q

what are some conditions that can be applied to bail?

A

-living at a particular address
-don’t contact certain people
-give your passport to the police so you can’t leave the UK
-report to the police station at specific agreed times each week

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8
Q

when can bail be refused?

A

if there are sufficient grounds
-can be refused upon arrest but granted later in court and vice versa

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9
Q

what is remand?

A

if bail is refused the person has to go to prison until their first hearing

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10
Q

what are the key functions of the magistrates court?

A

-tries summary offences and most triable either-way offences
-sentences guilty defendants (powers are limited but reflect the seriousness of crimes)
-deals with first hearings of indictable offences
-grants/refuses bail in summary or either way trials
-tries cases in the youth court for defendants aged 10-17
-97% of all criminal cases are heard here, more than 90% are concluded here

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11
Q

what are the functions of the crown court?

A

-deal with the most serious, indictable offences and some either-way offences
-deals with appeals from magistrates
-normally has a jury for the verdict and a judge for the sentence

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12
Q

what is the CPS?

A

-crown prosecution service
-responsible for prosecuting most criminal cases in England and Wales
-decides which cases are to be prosecuted
-determines the most appropriate offences to charge the defendant with
-prepares cases and presents them in court

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13
Q

what is the two-fold test under the code for crown prosecutors?

A

-the evidential burden test (must be sufficient evidence)
-the public interest stage test (prosecution must be in the public interest)

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14
Q

what are some factors that would influence the CPS to prosecute?

A

-a premeditated decision to commit a crime
-use of a weapon
-defendant was in a position of authority or trust
-vulnerability of the victim
-defendant has previous convictions

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15
Q

what are the three classifications of criminal offences?

A

-indictable
-triable either-way
-summary

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16
Q

what are indictable offences?

A

-initially heard at magistrates court then transferred to crown court for the trial
-eg murder, manslaughter, robbery, s18
-sentencing powers of up to the maximum set by each offence

17
Q

what are triable either-way offences?

A

-plea before magistrates or crown court
-eg theft, s20, s47
-sentencing powers of up to the maximum sentence

18
Q

what are summary offences?

A

-tried in the magistrates court
-assault, minor criminal damage
-sentencing powers of up to 6 months imprisonment for a single offence or 12 months for 2+ offences and/or a fine of up to £5k

19
Q

when must an appeal be made?

A

-within 28 days after the conviction (for appealing conviction) or sentence (for appealing sentence)

20
Q

how do appeals from magistrates to crown work?

A

-available only to the defence
-available against sentence and/or conviction
-appeal heard by a panel of a single circuit judge and two magistrates
-generally no further appeal possible, but can appeal to kings bench divisional court on a point of law, or to the supreme court
-can either quash appeal, confirm appeal or remit a case back to magistrates

21
Q

how do appeals from magistrates to kings bench divisional court work?

A

-pros and def
-appeal on a point of law
-heard by 2/3 high court judges, may include a CofA judge
-possible further appeal to SC on point of law of general public importance
-quash, confirm or remit

22
Q

appeal from CC (defendant)

A

-rare against sentence/conviction
-heard in CofA within 6 weeks, can hear new evidence
-rare appeal to SC on point of law of general public importance
-quash or confirm

23
Q

appeal from CC (prosecution)

A

-against acquittal of d or lenient sentence
-heard in CofA
-same rare appeal
-quash or confirm

24
Q

what are the 4 main types of sentence

A

-imprisonment
-community sentences
-fines
-discharges (being brought to court is enough)

25
Q

who are lay peopl

A

legally unqualified
-magistrates
-juries

26
Q

magistrates roles

A

-sit in benches of 3
-listen to evidence and follow guidelines in decision making
-try summary and TEW offences
-sentence guilty or direct to CC
-preliminary hearings

27
Q

magistrates powers

A

-absolute/cjonditional discharge
-custodial sentence
-suspended sentence
-community order
-fine
-compensation
-disqualified/banning order

28
Q

jury roles

A

-cc panel of 12
-decide verdict
-decide facts of case
-listen to judge
-act independently

29
Q

advantages of juries

A

-public confidence
-upholds democracy and freedom of will