Bodies Flashcards
If individual or company has broken the law by committing a crime, the person or company is brought to justice.
Bodies
Individual or company have broken law by committing a crime, then the person or company is brought to justice
Police
Serve the community and the law to enforce criminal law
police:
preserve peace
prevent crime
Delegated bodies
An authority or agency given power to make and enforce laws
If laws are broken, enforced by
warnings, directing person, rehabilitation, legal proceedings
Fairness
people can participate in justice system and processes should be impartial and open
impartial : no bias
open : accountability of actions
equality
people should be treated in the same way, but if the same treatment causes disparity or disadvantage, adequate measures should be taken to allow all to engage with the justice system without disparity or disadvantage
access
all people should be able to engage with the justice system and its processes on an informed basis
formal: individuals treated the same regardless of personal characteristics
different : special measures
Powers and rights
Australians are entitled to a number of rights and freedoms
courts
federal and state courts
state courts deal with issues arising under state law
federal courts deal with issues arising under federal courts
Arrest
- Once a crime has been committed the police have the power to arrest an accused person
- The power of arrest with or without a warrant is found in the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic)
- Most are made without a warrant
Determine criminal case
If accused pleads not guilty then it’s the role of the courts to determine whether the accused is guilty
Individuals in an arrest
Can refuse to attend a police station unless under arrest. Must be informed of the reason for their arrest at the time of the arrest and be promptly informed of any proceedings against them
process
charged with an indictable offence first go to magistrates courts for a committal proceeding
Questioning
- if a person has been arrested and is in custody for being suspected of committing an offence, an investigating official has the power to question them within a reasonable time
- May be questioned to determine what involvement they had in the offence if any
courts role
provides specialisation and expertise in the type of case its hearing
imposing sanctions
accused pleads guilty or is found court sets out a date for hearings
both parties discuss
facts
circumstances
Court proceedings
For summary offences,
the Magistrates’ Court hears and determines the charged and the magistrate determines guilt
Court proceedings
For indictable offences,
the Magistrates’ Court determines whether there is enough evidence to a support a conviction at trial before the matter is transferred to the County or Supreme Court
The jury
independent group of people chosen at random to determine questions in a trial based of facts and evidence provided
Imprisonment of the offender
If found not guilty, accused is released immediately
● If found guilty, the court’s role is to impose a sanction
● The sanction of last resort is imprisonment -> involves removing the offender from society and placing them in jail for a period of time
Groups we will focus on who struggle with the justice system are:
First Nations people
● Young people
● Culturally and linguistically diverse people
● Disabled people
when are Jurys used
used in court and supreme courts
what does criminal jury consist of
12 jurors
over 18
randomly selected
Overrepresentation in the justice system
indigenous ppl
Comprise 3.8% of the Australian population
● However, make up 32% of the prison population
● In Victoria, 9% of the prison population is Indigenous
● Account for only 1% of Victoria’s population
● Indigenous children and young people account for about 15% of children and young people under supervision
role of criminal jury
-Listen to all evidence
-Concentrate during trial
-Decide whether accused is guilty or not guilty based off evidence
Difficulties faced
Cultural differences
Differences in customary law and the criminal justice system
Customary law: the body of norms, practices, and beliefs that a local community or group of people accept as legal requirements or rules of conduct
In customary law, Elders are involved in sentencing an offender and may even carry out the punishment
Language barriers
`Not all speak English as their first language
● May speak an Aboriginal language or Aboriginal English
● Aboriginal English uses words differently and the accent is different
● This means an interpreter will likely be required for the criminal justice system
young people
Describes those less than 25 years old
Suspected or accused
● Victim
● Witnesses
● Particularly in cases involving family or domestic violence and abuse
Difficulties faced
young people
Some have a one-off incident, others become adult offenders
● The younger the child was when first sentenced, the more likely they are to reoffend
● Young people can also be victims and witnesses of crime
punishment
designed to penalise offender, show society and victim that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated
Lack of understanding
young people
Many young people struggle to access the justice system because they are not able to understand the system and therefore properly engage with it
● The language and processes used are catered for adults
● Use of complex vocabulary and questions
deterrence
designed to discourage offender and others in community from committing similar offences
Culturally and linguistically diverse people
Culturally and linguistically diverse people (CALD)
● Refers to those from non-English speaking countries
denunciation
designed to demonstrate the community’s disapproval of the offenders actions
sentence that is harsh enough to show disapproval
Disabled people
prevent people with certain characteristics, including disabilities, from being discriminated against