AC 1.2

Question 1

Overview of criminal justice system

Answer 1

1. Law creation and administration
2. Law enforcement
3. The courts
4. Punishment of convicted offenders

Question 2

Law creation and administration

Answer 2

-Parliament passes acts
-Judges create law by setting judicial precedents that other courts must follow and by interpreting the meaning of statutes
-Administrated by Ministry of Justice and Home Office

Question 4

Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

Answer 4

Cabinet ministry that deals with legal affairs, legislative activities and administration of justice. Head of overall UK Justice System.

Question 5

MoJ role

Answer 5

Works with other government departments and agencies to bring the principles of justice to life for everyone in society.

Ensures sentences are served and offenders are encourage to turn their lives around and become law-abiding citizens.

Protect the public from serious offenders and improve the safety and security of prisons

Question 6

Home Office: first duty

Answer 6

to keep citizens safe and the country secure

Question 7

Home Office role

Answer 7

Fundamental role in the security and economic prosperity of the UK and offer national security for crimes such as terrorism

Question 8

Law Enforcement

Answer 8

1. Police
2. Crown Prosecution Service

Question 9

The Police: responsibility

Answer 9

enforcing the law by investigating crimes, collect evidence and arrest, detain and question suspects

Question 10

The Police: powers

Answer 10

To issue cautions or fixed penalty notices (fines.

Question 11

The Police: powers demolished

Answer 11

Prosecution Offences Act 1985 demolished the responsibility to prosecute for police

Question 12

CPS: responsibility

Answer 12

Advise the police on lines of inquiry and evidence needed.
Assess the evidence and use it to decide whether to prosecute and with what charges.

Question 13

CPS: role in court

Answer 13

Prepares and presents the prosecution case. Only take to court if they think will win. Barristers who stand up in court and deliver the case are advocates.

Question 14

CPS: tests

Answer 14

1. Evidential Test
2. Public Interest Test
3. Threshold Test

Question 15

CPS: evidential test

Answer 15

enough evidence that is admissible

Question 16

CPS: Public Interest

Answer 16

is it of public interest to prosecute, how much of an impact has it had, does the cost of trial outweigh the interest to the public.

Question 17

CPS: Threshold test

Answer 17

If case needs to be prosecuted but doesn’t pass the other tests they can use this test

Question 18

The Courts

Answer 18

1. HM Courts and Tribunals Service
2. Magistrates and Crown Courts
3. HM Prison and Probation Service

Question 19

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Answer 19

-Responsible for the administration of courts and tribunals service
-Two courts that criminal investigations could go through
-Make sure the trial run on time and smoothly

Question 20

Magistrates and Crown Courts

Answer 20

-Summary offences
-Every single case starts at mags to plea
-Plea guilty in mags get sent to crown just need judge who will sentence
-If plea not guilty go to crown with jury
-6 months and unlimited fine in mags
-life sentence in crown
-indictable cases go to Crown
-All over seen by HM Courts and Tribunal Service

Question 21

HM Prison and Probation Service

Answer 21

Carries out the sentences given to offenders
PRISON - supervise offenders in custody
PROBATION - supervises offenders serving sentences in community (prisoners released on licence)