CRIME - Legal personel

Question 1

Magistrate

Answer 1

-Local court judge
Trials (summary offences)
-Decides verdict
-Decides punishment
Committal hearings (indictable offences)
-Decides whether there is prime facie “good enough” case for it to go to proper trial

Question 2

Prosecutors

Answer 2

-Represents society
-Tries to prove defendant is guilty
Police Prosecutors
-Specially trained police officers
-Usually Local Court for less serious cases
Director of Public Prosecutions (the DPP)
-Runs an office of prosecution lawyers
-More serious cases

Question 3

Defence lawyers

Answer 3

• Represent defendant

- Tries to create reasonable doubt that defendant might not be guilty

Question 4

Public Defenders

Answer 4

• Represent defendants who have been given government assistance
  eg. Legal Aid cases, Aboriginal Legal Service cases