Criminal justice system

The criminal justice system is composed of those agencies which must enforce the laws that society has enacted for its self-protection and preservation. Theoretically, it is an integrated apparatus whose functions are to apprehend, prosecute, convict, sentence, and correct offenders. The US system is federal by its nature, i.e. it consists of three subsystems: state, local and federal criminal justice agencies. The system is composed of three components: police, court, corrections. Each component must contribute to the same goal – the prevention and control of crime and the rehabilitation of offenders. So the effectiveness of the whole system depends on the efficient functioning of each component and their efficient interaction. But at present the criminal justice system doesn’t work successfully. Of the several million serious crime reported every year to police, ranging from murder to car theft, only one in nine results in a conviction. The rate of solution varies with different crimes. Murder is usually reported, and 86 per cent of all reported murders lead to arrests. Among those arrested, however, only 64 per cent are prosecuted and not more than 43 per cent of the cases prosecuted result in convictions. Of persons prosecuted for murder 19 per cent are convicted of a lesser crime and 38 per cent are acquitted or dismissed. In contrast, only 19 per cent of all the burglaries reported to police lead to an arrest. Four out of five arrested are prosecuted and 56 per cent are found guilty. So, for every twelve burglaries reported there is one conviction. Robbery – taking property from a person by force or threat of force – is a crime of violence, dangerous to life and increasing rapidly. But chances of a robber being convicted are small. Only 27 per cent of all robberies lead to an arrest. Of those arrested, 63 per cent are prosecuted, of whom one-half are convicted. Less than two-thirds of the cases in which individuals are charged with murder and robbery are prosecutable. Often the reasons are: insufficient evidence, mistaken identity, unprofessional work of law enforcement agencies, etc. Long delays in trials may lead to dismissals because witnesses die or disappear, evidence is stale or lost.

II. Вставьте вместо точек слова в скобках, применяя, где необходимо, или притяжательный падеж – ’s, или of … .

1. Give me … (the exercise-books /your students).

2. Bring … (the things /your children).

3. This is … (the family /my friend).

4. Whose bag is this? – It’s … (the bag /Tom).

5. Have you seen … ? (the book /your teacher).

III. Переведите на английский язык, употребляя глагол to be в Present или Past Simple.

1. Когда Джон был маленьким, он боялся собак. 2. Мы с Анной очень хорошие друзья. 3. Том не интересуется политикой. 4. Мне нужно почистить ботинки, они очень грязные. 5. Этот ресторан очень дорогой. Давай пойдем в другой. 6. Я не хотел есть, поэтому не обедал. 7. Мотогонки – опасный вид спорта. 8. Дома на этой улице очень старые. 9. Анна сейчас дома, а ее дети в школе. 10. В прошлом году мой брат был студентом, а сейчас он архитектор.

IV. Переведите на английский язык, обращая внимание на предлоги.

1. Уберите тарелки с полки. 2. Положите книгу в портфель. 3. Она пошла в комнату и села на диван. 4. Вылей воду из стакана. 5. Возьмите мел со стола и напишите предложение на доске.

V. Переведите предложения на английский язык, обращая внимание на указательные местоимения.

1. Не пей эту воду. Она грязная. 2. То яблоко красное? 3. Эти рассказы интересные? 4. Возьмите те ручки и карандаши. 5. Положите все ваши вещи на этот стол.

VI. Поставьте глагол в правильную форму.

1. Silvia … (learn) English at the moment.

2. Have you heard about Tom? He … (build) his own house.

3. … your English … (get) better?

4. Tom … (play) football this season. He wants to concentrate on his studies.

5. The cost of living … (increase). Every year things are dearer.

VII. Поставьте глагол в правильную форму.

1. In Britain most of the shops … (close) at 5.30 p.m.

2. How often … you … (go) to the dentist?

3. The River Amazon … (flow) into Pacific Ocean.

4. Tom plays tennis. How often … he … (play) tennis?

5. What time … you usually … (have) dinner?

VIII. Поставьте глагол в правильную форму.

1. Tom’s father … (teach) him how to drive when he was 17.

2. Don … (fall) down the stairs this morning and … (hurt) his leg.

3. We needed some money so we … (sell) our car.

4. Ann … (spend) a lot of money yesterday. She … (buy) a dress which … (cost) £ 50.

5. Jim … (throw) the ball to Sue who … (catch) it.

IX. Переведите на английский язык, обращая внимание на перевод слов much, little, few, many.

1. Вы мало работаете вместе. 2. Она любит много ходить пешком. 3. Мы мало читаем в классе. Мы много читаем дома. 4. Он работает слишком много. Он работает 6 дней в неделю. 5. В классе мы делаем много упражнений.

Вариант 5

I. Письменно переведите текст на русский язык. Выпишите 20 слов на юридическую тему с транскрипцией и переводом. Выучите эти слова наизусть.