The solutions
Johny
Micky
Sonny
? did not go to prison.
* * *
The motorist was charged with driving his car while under the influence of liquer, a traffic policeman was giving evidence.
«When I came upon the scene, Your Worship,» he said, «I found the accused arguing, with the Minister of Transport about the condition of the road».
«Well», commented the magistrate, «that proves nothing does it?»
«No», admitted the witness, «only, you see, the Minister of Transport wasn’t there».
* * *
A beautiful blonde walked into a Chicago police station and gave the desk sergeant a detailed description of a man who had dragged her by the hair down three flights of stairs, threatened to choke her to death and finally beat her up.
“With this description we’ll have him arrested in no time”, said the desk sergeant.
“But I don’t want him arrested», the young woman protested. “Just find him for me. He promised to marry me”.
S urrey has set up a new cheque squad to combat fraud in the country. Officers in the financial investigation unit have begun a systematic investigation of every stolen cheque and credit card using computers, intelligence and forensic science.
Officers from South Wales arrested six men and women during an operation targeting drug dealers in the Rhondda. Drugs (amphetamines and cannabis) were recovered along with weapons including hatchets and daggers.
Essex Police is setting up a shop to help burglary victims identify stolen jewellery. The five-day roadshow will be held in an empty shop from September 19. It has been prompted by Operation Sapphire to investigate burglaries in the country. Four people have been charged.
Surrey Police have uncovered cannabis factories - including one with 200 plants - during a series of early morning drug raids. Operation Scorpion resulted in 12 arrests. About 100 officers worked on the operation for two days and 24 properties were searched.
Unit 6
Types of legal professions
Who is who in the law? If you are prosecuted for a crime in Britain, you may meet the following people during your process through the courts:
Magistrates. Magistrates are unpaid judges, usually chosen from well-respected people in the local community. They are guided on points of law by an official, the clerk. There are magistrates’ courts in most towns.
Solicitors. After the accused person has been arrested, the first person he or she needs to see is a solicitor. Solicitors are qualified lawyers who advise the accused and help prepare the defence case. The solicitor may represent the accused in court. A person who is too poor to afford a solicitor will usually get Legal Aid - financial help from the state.
Barristers. In more serious cases it is usual for the solicitor to hire a barrister to defend the accused. The barrister is trained in the law and in the skills required to argue a case in court. The barrister for the defence will be confronted by his or her opposite number, the prosecuting barrister who represents the state.
Jurors. A jury consists of twelve men and women from the local community. They sit in the Crown Court, with a judge, and listen to witnesses for the defence and prosecution before deciding whether the accused is guilty or innocent. In Britain the person is innocent unless found guilty: the prosecution has the burden of establishing guilt.
Judges. Judges are trained lawyers, nearly always ex—barristers , who sit in the Crown Court (and appeal courts). The judge rules on points of law, and makes sure that the trial is conducted properly. He or she does not decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused - that is the jury’s job. However, if the jury find the accused guilty, then the judge will pass sentence.
Coroners. Coroners have medical or legal training (or both) and inquire into violent or unnatural deaths.
Clerks of the court. Clerks look after administrative and legal matters in the courtroom.
Sentencing. The most common sentences are fines, prison and probation. Probation is used often with more minor offences. A person on probation must report to a local police station at regular intervals, which restricts his or her movement. A sentence of community service means that the convicted person has to spend several hours a week doing useful work in his locality.
A few more facts. Children under 10 cannot be charged with a criminal offence.
Offenders between 10 and 17 are tried by special juvenile courts.
The death penalty technically still exists in Britain for some rare offences, such as treason, but is no longer used.
The punishment for murder is a life sentence. This can be much less than a lifetime in prison, depending on factors such as good behaviour.
The most common punishment for crimes - 80 per cent of the total-is a fine.
WORDS AND PHRASES
Magistrate [′mæd3istrit] - мировий суддя
to accuse [ə′kju:z] - обвинувачувати
defence [di′fens] - захист
to hire [′haіə] - наймати
to argue [′a:gju:] - обговорювати; заперечувати (оспорювати)
innocent [′məsnt] - невинний
burden [′bə:dn] - тягар доказу
prison [′prizn] -тюрма, в’язниця
probation [prə′bei∫ən] - умовне засудження (осудження)
restrict [ris′trikt] - обмежувати
treason [′tri:zn] — зрада
rare [гεə] – рідкісний
