II. Reading

6. Прочитайте и переведите текст. Categories of сrime in Britain

There are three categories of crimes in the UK: indictable, summary, and either-way crimes.

Indictable - offences are the most serious and are punishable by the longest prison terms. They include murder, rape and robbery and can only be tried at a Crown court.

Summary offences are the less serious offences, such as speeding and drunk-driving. Summary trials are heard in magistrates’ courts.

Either-way offences can be heard at magistrates’ court or Crown court. Examples of either way offences include theft, drug offences and less serious physical violence. A magistrate can decide that an either-way offence is serious enough that it must be heard at Crown court where the penalties handed out can be more severe. If, however, a magistrate decides that an either-way offence can be heard as a summary trial, the defendant can choose to move the trial to Crown court.

An important aspect of criminal law is that in most crimes prosecutors have to prove two elements. The first, actus reus, refers to the criminal act itself. The second, mens rea, refers to the intent to commit a crime – ‘a guilty mind’. However, in some cases, such as drink driving or speeding, prosecutors do not have to prove intent. Such offences are said to be of ‘strict liability’. The offences without fault are called strict liability offences.

Types of serious crimes in most jurisdictions are: arson, theft, sexual offences, terrorism. In common law arson is setting fire to the dwelling of another person. Theft sometimes is still known by the traditional name of larceny which probably is the most common crime involving criminal intent. The traditional definition of theft is the physical removal of an object without the consent of the owner. Burglary is entering a building, inhabited vehicle or vessel to steal, to inflict bodily harm or to do unlawful damage. In English law, any entry by a individual into a building with intent to commit theft is burglary.

Robbery is the commission of theft in circumstances of violence. Robbery takes many forms - from the mugging of a stranger in the street to robberies of banks, involving numerous participants and careful planning.

7. Выразите согласие/несогласие со следующими утверждениями, используя ту или иную речевую модель.

Model: a) I fully agree with the statement.

b) I am afraid, I can’t agree with it.

1. Summary offences are punished by the longest prison terms.

2. Such offences as ‘theft’ and ‘drug offences’ can be heard only at magistrate’s court.

3. Summary offences are the least serious offences.

4. Actus reus refers to the intent to commit a crime.

5. Mens rea refers to the criminal act itself.

8. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту.

1. What are the three categories of crime?

2. In what way are indictable offences punished?

3. What offences are heard at magistrate’s court?

4. Can an either-way offence be heard in different courts?

5. What is known as a strict liability offence?

6. What is the most violent crime in your opinion?

9. Определите значения данных пар видов преступления. Используйте англо-английский словарь.

Fraud – embezzlement

Theft – larceny

Felony – misdemeanor

Unit 3

I. Lead-in

1. Прочитайте вслух слова, обратите внимание на их произношение.

warrant, plea, oath, counsel, clerk, accused, domicile, indictment, reasonable doubt, guilt.

2. Составьте словосочетания.

report investigate cross-examine commit decide lodge arrest resolve overturn convict acquit summarize

crime criminal charge person case accused suspect witness verdict

3. Соотнесите английские словосочетания с их русскими эквивалентами.

1. guilty plea	a. заявление об обвинении
2. probable cause	b. сделка о признании вины
3. preponderance of evidence	c. разумное, обоснованное сомнение
4. burden of proof	d. обвинительный акт
5. plea bargain	e. перевес доказательств
6. reasonable doubt	f. признание вины
7. information	g. бремя доказывания
8. indictment	h. вероятная причина, правдоподобное основание