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Методичка право.doc
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1. Read the text. Law, Order, Crime

When somebody breaks the law and does something against the law the police must investigate who is responsible for a crime. If they find the person who committed the crime, they arrest him or her. At the police station the person is questioned and charged with the crime. He must then be sent to court for trial.

The person charged with the crime is now called the defendant or accused. In court, he must try to prove that he is innocent. The jury listens to all the evidence for and against the defendant and then makes their decision.

If the jury decides that the defendant is guilty, the judge will give the sentence. For example, if a person is convicted of murder, the sentence will be many years in prison. The person then becomes a prisoner and the place he lives in is called a cell. For minor offences (that is, crime that is not serious, e.g. illegal parking), the punishment is usually a fine. To fight crime the courts now give tougher punishments for crimes committed than in the past (e.g. bigger fines or longer prison sentences). There is capital punishment (death by electric chair or hanging) for some crimes. If a person convicted of a crime is put on probation, instead of punishment, he must behave well for a period of 1—3 years. If he is convicted of another crime while on probation, he will also be punished for the original crime. Suspended sentence1 is a prison sentence of less than two years which does not take effect unless the convicted person commits another crime during the period specified by the court. Corporal punishment consists of causing a person to physical pain, e.g. by whipping. A community service order2 is a court order to a person convicted of a crime to do a certain number of hours of work without pay in the local community instead of another form of punishment.

Common offences like theft, robbery, burglary, shoplifting; more serious offences such as murder, manslaughter and rape, crimes against public morals, pollution and traffic offences are arising every day in the courts. Thief, robber, burglar, shoplifter, murderer, rapist are criminals.

People who defend criminals and present evidence are called barristers (lawyers) or attorneys (in Am Eng).

Notes to the Text

1. Suspended sentence — отсрочка исполнения приговора

2. community service order — направление на общественные работы

2. Put the sentences into the correct order.

  1. You are convicted of an offence.

  2. You are sentenced to punishment for an offence.

  3. You are tried for an offence.

  4. You are suspected of an offence.

  5. You plead guilty or not guilty to an offence at the trial.

  6. You are arrested for an offence.

7. You are accused of an offence (You are charged with an offence).

3. Fill in the correct words.

1. The ... must decide if the accused is innocent or ... 2. The police were sure the man was a ... , but it would be difficult to ... it in court. 3. Two months later the defendant was sent to court for ... 4. If the accused is convicted of rape, the ... may be at least ten years in ... 5. ... defend people and present... 6. If you park your car illegally, you will have to pay a ... 7. In Britain it is ... the law to drive a motor vehicle without insurance. 8. Fortunately, it was only a minor ... and we were not taken to the police station. 9. The ... sentences people. 10. I have never ... the law and ... a crime. 11. Police are allowed to stop anyone in the street and ... them.