Unit 5. Criminal procedure: pretrial events

Практические занятия – 10 часов.

Внеаудиторная самостоятельная работа – 10 часов.

8. Аудиторная работа

Key vocabulary

pre-trial - досудебный

release - освобождение (от ответственности, из-под стражи и т.п. )

plea - заявление оснований иска

enter a plea - подача заявления оснований иска или обвинения или оснований защиты против иска или обвинения

warrant - приказ; ордер (на обыск, арест и т.д.); предписание

custody - задержание; лишение свободы; содержание под стражей; тюремное заключение

investigation - расследование; дознание

charge - обвинение; пункт обвинения, обвинять

justify - оправдывать; извинять; обосновывать

counsel - участвующий в деле адвокат; барристер

expenses - расходы, издержки

public defender - 1) ответчик по апелляции 2) защитник

appearance - появление; явка; регистрация явки

recognizance - 1) обязательство, данное в суде (занесённое в судебный протокол)

authorize - уполномочивать; давать право

bail - поручительство

to flee from prosecution - скрываться от уголовного преследования

parole - 1) честное слово; обещание 2) условно-досрочное освобождение

под честное слово | условно-досрочно освобождать под честное слово

probation - пробация, система испытания (вид условного осуждения)

I. Read the text and translate it into Russian.

A criminal action is a lawsuit brought by the state or by a city or by a county (also known as the people) against a person accused of a crime. If found innocent, the person is released. If found guilty, the person is sentenced by the judge. Under law, a person is presumed to be innocent until: a) guilt is admitted or b) guilt is proven doubt in a competent court. Codes of procedure specify in detail the conduct of a trial – this is done to protect the rights of the accused person. Even before a suspect is arrested, certain procedural rules govern the activities of the police and the rights of the suspect. Because each jurisdiction develops its own procedures, the names of the various pretrial proceedings and the order in which they occur vary.

Investigation and Arrest

The first step in a criminal prosecution is normally a pre-arrest investigation in which the police seek to determine (1) whether a crime was actually committed; and (2) if it was committed, whether there is sufficient information pointing to the guilt of a particular individual to justify arresting that person. The pre-arrest investigation may involve, among other techniques, personal observation by a police officer, questioning of witnesses and the suspect, and collecting and examining physical evidence left at the scene of a crime.

The next step is the arrest of the suspect which can be made with or without a warrant (a document issued by a court prior to an arrest that clearly specifies the nature of the offense for which the suspect is being arrested). A judge may issue an arrest warrant if either a police officer or a private person swears under oath that the accused has committed a crime, or that a crime has been committed and there is probable cause for believing the accused committed it. A police officer may properly make an arrest without a warrant if a felony (serious crime) is committed or attempted in the officer's presence, or if the officer reasonably believes a felony has been committed and that the accused did it. A police officer may also make an arrest for any misdemeanor (minor offense) committed or attempted in the officer's presence.

An arrest is the process of taking a person into custody for the purpose of charging that person with a crime. Before questioning a suspect in custody, the police must inform him or her of certain legal rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present during questioning.

First Judicial Appearance

Within a reasonable time after the arrest, the accused must be taken before a magistrate and informed of the charge. The magistrate will ascertain that the person before the court is, in fact, the individual referred to in the complaint. The magistrate also will notify the accused of various legal rights, such as the right to remain silent and the right to assistance of counsel. If the accused is indigent (poor) and desires the assistance of an appointed attorney, the process for securing an attorney at the state's expense will be initiated. In some jurisdictions, the government retains a staff of attorneys, known as public defenders, specifically to defend those who cannot afford a private attorney. Public defenders specialize in criminal law. In other areas, the court appoints private lawyers from the community to represent indigent

defendants. Some areas have a mix of the two systems.

In most jurisdictions, either before or during the first appearance, the magistrate determines whether the suspect shall be kept in jail or released on bail. Bail is a sum of money or property deposited or pledged to guarantee that the arrested person will appear for a preliminary hearing or trial. The amount in each case is set by a judge. Although a money bail system is in place in many states, the trend is to encourage the release of accused persons without attaching financial conditions. If the court believes the accused is likely to return for further proceedings, the court may release the accused on his or her own recognizance—that is, an unsecured promise to return.

On the other hand, most jurisdictions either authorize or require magistrates to deny bail for individuals who have demonstrated a high risk of fleeing, such as individuals charged with an offense committed while out of jail on bail, parole, or probation. Similarly, bail is typically unavailable for people charged with offenses that could result in capital punishment (the death penalty).

If charged with a minor offense, the accused may be asked to enter a plea regarding his or her guilt or innocence, and the magistrate may have the authority to proceed to trial if the defendant has pled not guilty. If the accused is charged with a serious offense, he or she does not enter a plea at the initial appearance.

Ex.1. Answer the questions to the text.

1. What happens to somebody if found guilty or innocent?

2. What is known under the codes of procedure?

3. Name two reasons for a pre-arrest investigation done by the police.

4. What is the case when a police officer may properly make an arrest

without a warrant?

5. What is the purpose of taking a person into custody?

6. What is bail?

Ex. 2. Find these phrases and expressions in the text.

1. признать невиновным 2. признать виновным 3. процессуальные нормы

4. предварительное расследование 5. показывать под присягой 6. хранить молчание 7. допрос 8. предварительное судебное слушание дела 9. с другой стороны 10. смертная казнь.

Ex. 3. Fill the gaps with the missing words from the box.

release, warrant, investigation, charge, justify, expenses, public defender, bail, authorize, parole, probation

1. He and his _________________ , Barry Collins, have acknowledged that Davis committed the crime.

2. The penalty agreed to on the cocaine charge includes four years of supervised ____________ and random drug testing.

3. But the program is short of money; some officers must look after up to 1,000 people on _________________.

4. There is not enough evidence to ______________ such accusations

5. Green is free on ____________ until his sentencing on June 27, when he faces up to 25 years in prison.

6. Thus the legal aid scheme permits those eligible to take the risk of litigation at the possible ________________ of the Fund.

7. Only Congress can ___________ the President to declare war.

8. Criminal ___________ were filed in October against Sorvino by the District Attorney's office.

9. Following a major police_____________________, two men have been arrested.

10. A ______________ has been issued for the arrest of a suspected terrorist.

11. Thousands of people worldwide campaigned for the _______________ of Nelson Mandela.

Ex.4. Fill empty slots in the table with the terms from the list to match their Russian language equivalents.

a) parliamentary investigation b) ongoing investigation c) internal security investigation d) introductory investigation e) later investigation f) law enforcement investigation g) lawful investigation h) legal investigation i) legislative investigation j) major investigation k) parallel investigation l) patrol investigation m) pending investigation n) initial investigation o) internal investigation p) investigation of accident q) investigation of crime r) judicial investigation s) latent investigation

1. первоначальное расследование 2. расследование преступления, совершённого в стране 3. расследование по делу о посягательстве на внутреннюю безопасность 4. предварительное расследование

5. расследование несчастного случая 6. уголовное расследование

7. судебное следствие 8. скрытое расследование 9. последующий этап расследования 10. амер. полицейское расследование 11. расследование на законном основании 12. расследование дела 13. расследование крупного дела

14. продолжающееся расследование 15. параллельное расследование

16. парламентское расследование 17. дознание патрульной полицией

18. незаконченное расследование

II. Translate into Russian.