AC1.2 - Describe the Organization of the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales

Question 1

Law creation and administration.

Answer 1

Passing of criminal laws by Parliament.
Running of the criminal justice system by government departments.

Question 2

Law enforcement.

Answer 2

By police enforcement.
Working with the CPS to bring prosecution.

Question 3

The courts.

Answer 3

Prosecution and defence.
Deciding the outcomes of criminal cases.

Question 4

Punishment of criminal cases.

Answer 4

Enforcement of prison sentences.
Dealing with offenders via the probation service.

Question 5

Who oversees the criminal justice system?

Answer 5

The ministry of justice and the home office.

Question 6

What are the 6 organisations involved in the criminal justice system?

Answer 6

Police
National probation service
Ministry of justice
HM prison service
CPS
HM courts and tribunal service.

Question 7

What are the police forces in England and Wales responsible for? (6 answers)

Answer 7

Enforcing the law
Investigating crimes
Collecting evidence
Arresting, detaining and questioning suspects
Issuing fines or cautions for minor cases
Sending filed to the CPS for decisions to prosecute.

Question 8

What are the CPS responsible for? (3 answers)

Answer 8

Advising police in their investigations, lines of enquiry and the evidence required to prosecute.
Decide whether to prosecute and under what charges.
Prepares and presents a prosecution case in court via their own team of lawyers.

Question 9

What do the CPS base the decision to prosecute on?

Answer 9

The full code test.1

Question 10

What are HM Courts and Tribunal services responsible for? (3 answers)

Answer 10

Charging a suspect and bringing them before a magistrates court and then for more serious offences (about 5% of cases) to a crown court
Arranging juries for trials
Ensuring sentencing guidelines are followed for convicted offenders

Question 11

What are HM Prison and Probation services responsible for? (3 answers)

Answer 11

Supervising offenders in custody or who have been remanded in custody awaiting trial.
Supervising offenders who have served their sentences, are on probation or are serving their sentences in the community.
Rehabilitate offenders in the attempt to prevent reoffending.

Question 12

What’s the relationship between the police and other agencies of social control? (3 agencies, 4 answers)

Answer 12

Courts: Works with the courts to ensure defendants in custody are brought before them.
Often give evidence in court.
Probation: Work with probation in the management of an offender.
CPS: Work closely with the CPS in charging and prosecuting offenders.

Question 13

What’s the relationship between the Ministry of Justice and other agencies of social control? (3 agencies, 1 answer)

Answer 13

Oversees the work of HM courts and tribunal services, probation services and prison systems.

Question 14

What’s the relationship between HM courts and tribunal service and other agencies of social control? (4 answers)

Answer 14

Contributes to law creation through judicial precedent and statutory interpretation.
Arrange video links if a prisoner isn’t able to attend court.
Prison services: Prisoners are held in court cells awaiting their trial before being returned back to prison.
Police: Liaison with the police/ independent security firms and prisons to ensure safe delivery to court.

Question 15

What’s the relationship between the CPS and other agencies of social control? (2 agencies, 2 answers)

Answer 15

Police: Advises the police on charging a suspect and in early stages of their investigation.
Courts: Appear in court to represent the prosecution.

Question 16

What’s the relationship between HM Prison service and other agencies of social control? (4 agencies, 4 answers)

Answer 16

CPS: Lawyers may seek visits to prisons for legal consultations.
Courts: It’s the judge that sets term of imprisonment, including the length, type and whether it is concurrent or consecutive.
Police/ Courts: Those who have been denied bail by the police or the courts will be remanded to prison.
Probation: Work with probation services when a prisoner is due to be released.

Question 17

What’s the relationship between the National Probation Service and other agencies of social control? (3 agencies, 2 answers)

Answer 17

Police: Police will arrest a prisoner recalled whilst on probation and ensure their return to prison.
Prison service/ courts: oversee all prisoners who have served a sentence up to 2 years, and released on a licence of a minimum of 2 months.

Question 18

What’s the relationship between the Sentencing Council and other agencies of social control? (2 agencies, 1 answer)

Answer 18

Courts, CPS: Works with the judiciary and other legal professionals to produce guidelines on sentencing.

Question 19

What’s the relationship between Campaigns for Change and other agencies of social control? (3 answers)

Answer 19

Can liaise with various organisations for support to enable change to be effective.
Police: Bobby Turnbull’s campaign for changing gun licencing laws liaised with the police.
Prison: The prison reform trust works with prisons and other agencies to improve the penal system.