Discussion

Ex. 1. Mark the statements which are true. Prove your idea.

1. Criminal law covers a multitude of activities and sins.

2. The courts must respond to all forms of criminal activity.

3. The criminal behaviour is not seen as serious or deviant for the majority of society to ban it.

4. The police officer can arrest without a specific warrant for any suspected crime.

5. The defendant had failed to answer a summons and the magistrates decided to bring him before a court.

6. A conviction cannot be secured unless it is shown that both actus reus and mens rea were present.

7. The burden of proof lies upon the Jury.

Ex. 2. Use the word from the box to form a word that fits in the space. Speak about Tom’s crime.

Tom's Life of Crime

innocent thief offend steal defend accident worth crime punish prison

At his last trial, nobody believed in Tom's (1)……….. .He had been accused of the (2)……….of a valuable Chinese vase, and was also charged with ten other (3)……….The value of the (4)……….goods was said to be over £10,000. Tom said in his own (5)……….that the vase had been put into his car (6)……….He also pointed out that the Chinese vase was a fake, and was almost (7)……….The judge did not believe Tom's story. He told Tom he was a hardened (8)……….and that he deserved a severe (9)……….When the judge sentenced Tom to five years (10)………. Tom just smiled. He had spent most of his life in prison and so he was used to it.

Ex. 3. Write down 10 questions you could ask speaking about “crime.” Begin your questions differently, like this:

Did …? Are…? Have …?

Who …? Why …? How long …?

In what cases…?

What measures …? etc.

Ex. 4. Decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each space. Speak about inspector Ronald Lewis’s investigation.

Inspector’s Investigation

'I think I know the identity of the murderer,' said Inspector Ronald Lewis, 'and at (1)….. one of the guests in this hotel was a/an (2)….. to the crime, probably by (3)….. I believe that the same guest is also a (4)….., and has been given money by the killer.' 'So whoever (5)….. this terrible crime is still here,' I said. 'But of course. In (6)….. he – or she – is in this room, and will soon be (7)….. arrest.' There was silence for a moment. I noticed that everyone was trying to look (8)….., but they a11 looked guilty instead! 'Do you have any (9)…... Inspector,' asked Lady Grimshaw finally, 'or are you simply (10)…… people for fun? If you intend to (11)….. someone, you should do it now.' The Inspector smiled. 'I asked you here (12)….. purpose, Lady Grimshaw. I have been reading your (13)….. you see, and it is quite clear that you have told several (14)….. ''How dare you!' Lady Grimshaw spluttered. 'Do you (15) ….. that you were with Tim Dawson in the garden on the night of the murder?' the Inspector said? 'You forgot about the security cameras, you see...

1)	A) last	b) least	c) the	D) school
2)	A) witness	b) offender	C) guilty	D) verdict
3)	A) now	b) damages	c) law	d) accident
4)	A) blackmailer	B) hostage	c) hooligan	D) forger
5)	A) confessed	B) committed	C) admitted	D) performed
6)	A) crime	B) self-defence	C) fact	d) danger
7)	A) to	b) having	c) under	D) my
8)	A) accused	B) suspicious	c) ordinary	D) innocent
9)	a) evidence	b) witness	C) permission	d) body
10)	a) suspecting	B) suing	c) denying	d) accusing
11)	A) trial	b) charge	c) sentence	D) confess
12)	A) with	B) for	c) on	D) by
13)	a) statement	B) biography	C) evident	D) history
14)	a) people	B) errors	C) times	D) lies
15)	a) refuse	b) deny	C) contradict	d) suppose

Ex. 5. Put crimes in order you think best on the ladder below, starting with the minor and ending with the most serious.

a)

*most serious offences

*

* robbery

*

*

theft

*

* minor offences

b) Give reasons for the position of each crime. Use as many words and phrases from the text as possible.

Ex. 6. Fill in the chart.

		CRIME
		English Criminal Law	Your Country
A.	Type of offences	1. murder 2. 3. 4.	1. murder 2. 3. 4
B.	Basic characteristics of the crime	1. premeditated unlawful killing of another person 2. 3. 4.	1. 2. 3. 4.
C.	Public opinion	1. serious and unlawful crime 2. 3. 4.	1. 2. 3. 4.

Ex. 7. Put the sentences in the logical order to make a text.

1. A principal in the first degree is the person who actually did the criminal act.

2. An accessory after the fact is one who assists or permits the escape of the criminal.

3. Principles may be either in the first or in the second degree.

4. The accessories may be either before or after the fact.

5. The person who commits the crime is the principle.

6. An accessory before the fact is one who advises or procures it to be done.

7. A principal in the second degree is the person who is present at the commission of a crime.

8. The person who plays a second role, assists the principal, is the accomplice.

9. Accomplices may be charged with procuring an offence, abetting, aiding or counselling.

Ex. 8. Fill in the following chart and comment on it. Use the information in ex 7.

			Partakers in a crime

Ex. 9. Put the following sentences in the logical order and make stories. Discuss them.

A:

1. In the eyes of law, children under the age of 10 are incapable of performing a crime.

2. A great percentage of adult offenders started their careers as criminals between 14 and 21 years of age.

3. In many countries the meaning of juvenile delinquency is so broad that it embraces all manifestations of juvenile behaviour.

4. Juvenile delinquency is often regarded as a social problem.

5. Psychological factor is called among factors causing juvenile delinquency.

6. Treatment of juvenile offenders embraces all types of methods and measures, including disciplinary measures and punishment.

B:

1. $10,000 was stolen from a bank in the High Street.

2. The police questioned a number of people about the crime.

3. And they finally arrested two men.

4. They questioned them at the police station.

5. And charged them with the robbery

6. The trial took place two months later.

7. After the jury had listened to all the evidence, they found the men guilty.

8. They were sent to prison for seven years.

Ex. 10. What problems can be discussed with the help of the following groups of words:

1. perpetrator, group rape, conspiracy, to play a secondary role, to assist, the first degree, the second degree, the accessory before or after the fact;

2. to do criminal act, actually, to be guilty of criminal omission, through an innocent agent, to be present at the commission of a crime;

3. to advise, to procure, an accessory, to countermand, to assist, to permit the escape of the criminal.

Ex. 11. Explain and expand on the following:

1. A young person is judged capable of criminal intentions in the same way as an adult.

2. The disintegration of the family is also a contributory cause of juvenile delinquency.

3. The selection of staff in charge of treatment is particularly important in the treatment of juvenile offenders.

Ex. 12. Work with the partner and give your opinion about each of the following statemenst. Your partner should agree or disagree and say why.

1. The idea of crime prevention programmes (in your country).

2. Television provokes violent crimes.

3. Poverty and crime rate.