AC1.2 Describe the organisation of the criminal justice system

Question 1

Who do the police work with?

Answer 1

• The courts
• The CPS
• HM prisons and probation service
• Government departments
• Voluntary organisations

Question 2

What relationship do police have with court?

Answer 2

• The police give evidence as prosecution witnesses
• They provide protection for vulnerable witnesses giving evidence
• They hold defendants in police cells and transport them to and
  from court

Question 3

What relationship do the police have with HM prison and probation service?

Answer 3

• Police arrest prisoners who have been recalled for breaching the terms of their licence.
• As a result of Sarah’s law the police cooperate with them in managing the list of child sex offenders living in their area
• they facilitate interviews with prisoners involved in ongoing police investigations

Question 4

What relationship do the police have with government departments?

Answer 4

the home office funds the police, publishes police crime statistics and sets policing priorities

Question 5

What relationship do the police have with Voluntary organisations?

Answer 5

they refer victims and witnesses of crime to victim support like women’s refuges or the witness service

Question 6

Who do the courts work with?

Answer 6

• CPS
• Government departments
• HM courts and tribunal service
• HM prison service
• The national probation service

Question 7

Describe the relationship that courts have with the CPS

Answer 7

• The CPS will prepare and present the prosecution case against the offender in court
• They will also prepare appeals against unduly lenient sentences and present in court

Question 8

Describe the relationship that courts have with Government departments

Answer 8

The ministry of justice is responsible for providing funding for the courts

Question 9

Describe the relationship that courts have with HM courts and tribunals service

Answer 9

• HM Courts and Tribunals Service is responsible for ensuring the court system is run efficiently
• It is responsible for funding individual courts

Question 10

Describe the relationship that courts have with HM prison service and police

Answer 10

• the police give evidence as prosecution witnesses
• police provide protection for vulnerable witnesses giving evidence
  in court
• hold defendants in police cells and transport them to and from
  court
• Prison arrange video recordings and live links for prisoners giving
  evidence
• prison carries out the custodial sentences that the court has
  imposed on the offender
• supervises offenders who have been remanded in custody
• facilitates visits from the defence lawyers to their clients in prison

Question 11

Describe the relationship that courts have with the national probation service

Answer 11

• responsible for producing a pre-sentencing report on offenders
• they supervise offenders who have been given a community
  sentence by the court
• they supervise drug testing under the courts orders

Question 12

What are the four formal punishment types that the court can impose?

Answer 12

• A custodial sentence
• A fine
• A community sentence
• A conditional or absolute charge