Sanctions Flashcards
Purpose of Criminal law
aims to protect the community by defining what a crime is and determining appropriate penalties for people who commit crimes.
Role of Courts
The role of the court will be to decide whether the person is guilty of the offence and impose a penalty on that person.
An accused
can be a human being, a company or an association
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP):
prosecutions of indictable offences on behalf of the Crown
Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP):
The Victorian public prosecutions office which prepares and conducts criminal proceedings on behalf of the DPP
What are the principle of Justice in criminal law?
- Fairness
• Equality
• Access
Fairness:
fairness means there should be fair legal processes and a fair hearing or trial. without discrimination
Equality
In criminal cases, it means that people should be treated equally before the law, and people should have an equal opportunity to present their case.
- For equality to be achieved, the accused person may need to be treated differently.
Access
Access means that all parties should be able to understand their legal rights and should have the right and opportunity to use the institutions, processes and systems that are used for criminal cases.
What its the role of the police?
The role of the police is to serve the community and the law and to enforce criminal law.
The role of Victoria Police
is to serve the Victorian community and uphold the law to promote a safe, secure and orderly society.
What kind of tasks does the Victorian police undertake?
- talk to victims or witnesses about what happened
- question possible suspects
- examine the scene(s) of the crime
- look for and gather physical or forensic evidence
- conduct searches of people or property
- arrest accused persons
- charge people with the offences that most fit the crime.
Role of the Australian Federal Police
The role of the AFP is to investigate and enforce offences that have a federal aspect. Offences that have a federal aspect include those offences that are against the law of the Commonwealth or a territory
What are delegated bodies?
These bodies are known as delegated bodies because they are delegated (or given) power by the parliament to make and/or enforce laws.
Examples of State delegated bodies
- Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
- Local councils
- State Revenue Office (SRO)
- VicRoads
- Victorian Work Cover Authority (WorkSafe Victoria)
Commonwealth delegated bodies
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
What are Institutional powers?
the authority (i.e. power) given to bodies (i.e. institutions) such as Victoria Police to undertake certain actions
Examples of Institutional powers
- Arrest
- Questioning Bail
- Court proceedings
- Imprisonment of the offender
Arrest:
Once a crime has been committed, the police will have the power to arrest. The power of arrest, with or without a warrant.
Police can arrest without a warrant if the offender apposes to be an immediate risk to society.
People’s rights during arrest.
- An individual can refuse to attend the police station unless they are under arrest.
- They must be informed at the time of arrest the reason for the arrest, and be promptly informed about any proceedings that are to be brought against him or her.
- Arrested person must be promptly brought before a court and have the right to be brought to trial without unreasonable delay.
- If arrested, a person must be released (unconditionally or on bail) or brought before a bail justice or magistrate in the Magistrates’ Court within a reasonable time of being taken into custody.
Bail
However, the right to bail and the right to apply for bail are balanced by powers given to the prosecutor to oppose bail, and to the person deciding on bail to refuse bail or impose certain conditions. The prosecutor can also apply to revoke (i.e. cancel) bail.
People’s rights Questioning
• the person must first be informed that he or she does not have to do or say anything
- the person must be informed that he or she is able to communicate with or attempt to communicate with:
- A friend or relative (to inform them of his or her whereabouts)
- A legal practitioner and is allowed to do so unless the communication would result in the escape of an accomplice, or the fabrication or destruction of evidence, or the questioning is so urgent that it should not be delayed.
• The person has a right to an interpreter
• If the person is under 18 years of age, a parent, guardian or independent person must be present during the questioning
For summary offenses the Magistrates’ Court
- hear and determine
For summary offenses, the Magistrates’ Court will hear and determine the charges and the magistrate will decide on guilt.
For indictable offenses the Magistrates’ Court
- committal proceeding
For indictable offenses, the Magistrates’ Court will determine whether there is evidence of sufficient weight to support conviction at trial (through procedures known as the committal proceeding) before the matter is then transferred to either the County Court or Supreme Court for pre-trial procedures and, eventually, trial.
committal proceeding:
the processes and hearings that take place in the Magistrates’ Court for indictable offenses
Court proceedings
- be presumed innocent until proven guilty
- be informed promptly and in detail about the nature and reason for the charge
- have adequate time and facilities to prepare the defense
- be tried without unreasonable delay
- have legal aid if the interests of justice require it
- have the assistance of an interpreter if needed
- have the opportunity to challenge and rebut the evidence put against him or her, which includes examining the prosecution’s witnesses, and examining his or her own witnesses.
- Many of these rights aim to ensure the principles of justice are achieved.
Imprisonment of the offender
Imprisonment aims to protect the community as well as punish offenders by depriving them of their liberty.
The rights of prisoners
- the right to be in the open air for at least an hour each day (weather permitting)
- the right to be provided with adequate food and, where necessary, special dietary food (for example, where the prisoner is vegetarian or has religious beliefs)
- the right to be provided with suitable clothing
- the right to have access to reasonable medical care and treatment as well as reasonable dental treatment
- if the prisoner is intellectually disabled or mentally ill, the right to the appropriate special care and treatment
- the right to practice a religion, which includes the right to join with other prisoners to practice that religion (so long as it does not jeopardise prison security)
- the right to receive at least one half-hour visit a week.
Reasons for a court hierarchy
- The court hierarchy allows for specialisation or expertise.
- The court hierarchy enables the parties to a court case to appeal to a higher court if they are not satisfied with the decision in a lower court.
- The court hierarchy is a necessary part of the doctrine of precedent (law-making through courts)
- A court hierarchy allows for administrative convenience.
Federal courts hierarchy
- High Court of Australia 2a. Federal Court of Australia 2b. Family Court of Australia 3. Federal Circuit Court of Australia
Victorian courts hierarchy
1.Supreme Court (Court of Appeal) 2. Supreme Court (Trial Division)- 3. County Court of Victoria - 4. Magistrates’ Court of Victoria - 5a. Coroners Court - 5b. Children’s
The role of Victorian courts
- Determine a criminal case (by deciding whether the accused is guilty)
- Impose a sanction (if a person has been found, or has pleaded, guilty).
A judge or magistrate
will oversee the trial. The judge or magistrate, in doing so, will act as an impartial referee, and with no bias or connection with either party.
plea hearing
If an accused pleads guilty, or the magistrate or jury finds the accused guilty, then the court will set a date for the plea hearing.
- Upholds the Prinsiple of Justice.
Both parties make submissions about the facts of the case, the circumstances of the offender, the relevant factors that should be taken into account in sentencing and the type of sentence the offender should receive.
original jurisdiction
When a court is hearing a dispute for the first time, it is operating in its original jurisdiction
appellate jurisdiction
When a court is hearing an appeal, it is operating in its appellate jurisdiction.