Unit 1 Flashcards
(15 cards)
Where do all criminal cases start?
Magistrates’ Court
Are Magistrates trained lawyers?
No, they are lay people
What Percentage of cases go to the crown court?
Fewer than 10%
What proportion of defendants in the Crown Court plead guilty?
More than two-thirds
Magistrates have been parts of the legal system since when?
The Middle Ages
Magistrates traditionally were men from which social class?
Landed gentry: Upper-class landowners
What are the duties of the police?
The police have a duty to protect the public by preventing and detecting crime.
What are the two types of law?
Common law and Statute Law
What is Common Law?
Common law is made through cases heard before the courts.
What is Statute Law?
Statute law is found in Acts: laws passed by Parliament.
What does PACE stand for?
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
How does the police start the court process?
They charge the suspect with an offense
What are the two methods of charging a suspect with an offense?
In person at a police station or by “postal charge”
For minor offences, how may the court process start?
Via a summons instead of a charge
What is a summons?
The summons is a document requiring the accused person to attend court on a specific day.
