Read the text and fill in the gaps with the appropriate words from the box.

sentences	judge	crimes	prisoners
juiy	magistrate	behaviour	Crown
imprisonment	murder

In England there are no minimum..., except for..., which carries a penalty of life.... There are maximum sentences for other.... Crimes are first heard by a... who can either pass sentence, or refer the crime to a... Court with a... and.... Here are maximum sentences for some crimes. Sentences can be reduced for good..., often by one-third or more. «Life sentences» are rarely more than 14 years, and it would be possible to release... after 7 years.

Crime	Magistrates’ Court	Crown Court
Fine	Prison	Fine	Prison
1.	Bulgary	£1000	6 months	unlimited	14 years
2.	Grievous bodily harm	£1000	6 months	unlimited	5 years
3.	Possession of firearm	£1000	6 months	unlimited	5 years
4.	Possession of canabis	£500	3 months	unlimited	5 years
5.	Common assault	£200	2 months	¾	¾
6.	“Going equipped for stealing”	£1000	6 months	unlimited	3 years
7.	Murder	¾	¾	life imprisonment

Match the sentences with the crimes.

1)murder of a policeman;

2) drinking and driving without

causing a death;

3) robbing a bank with a gun;

4) stealing goods from a shop

(«shop-lifting»);

5) driving without insurance;

6) vandalising a telephone-box.

a) 100 hours of community service;

b) 6 months in prison or a £5.000 fine

and disqualification from driving;

c) five to ten years in prison;

d) a £300 fine;

e) a £3000 fine;

f) life imprisonment.

11. Copy the following table into your notebooks. Write as many words and expressions as you can think of to complete it. There is not necessarily a ‘correct’ position for a particular word. The choice is personal.

Crimes	Sentences	Legal professions
burglary	fine	judge

12. Work in pairs and find arguments for and against the death penalty.

Discuss the following questions:

- mild sentences are a sign of a civilized society;

- capital punishment is not a deterrent to murder;

- the punishment must fit the crime.

Use the following words and expressions:

- That’s just what I think.

- I see what you mean, but on the other hand...

- I think so too.

- That’s ridiculous.

- I’m afraid I can’t agree with you.

HAVE A REST

A man had been convicted of theft on circumstantial evidence. When the case was sent for appeal, he revealed to his lawyer that he had been in prison at the time of the crime committed.

«Good Heavens, man!» said the lawyer. «Why on earth didn’t you reveal that fact at the trial?»

«Well», said the man, «I thought it might prejudice the jury against me».

* * *

A man accused of stealing a watch was acquitted on insufficient evidence. Outside the courtroom he approached his lawyer and said, «What does that mean acquitted?»

«It means», said the lawyer, «that the court has found you innocent. You are free to go».

«Does it mean I can keep the watch?» asked the client.

* * *

First juror: «We shouldn’t be here very long. One look at those two fellows convinces me that they are guilty».

Second juror: «Not so loud, you fool! That’s counsel for the prosecution and counsel for defence!»

* * *

A man sentenced to death was being taken to the execution place in very nasty weather.

«What bad weather», he remarked.

«You are not the one to grumble», commented one of the escorts. «We’ve got yet to go back».

Hidden Word Puzzle

Fill in the puzzle and find the missing word. Use the clues to help you.

1. A public official who has a power

2. to decide questions brought be­fore a court (5).

3. Smth (often habit-forming) caus­ing sleep or producing stupor or insensibility, e.g. opium, cocaine (4).

4. The capital of the UK (6).

5. Offence for which there is severe punishment by law (5).

6. A qualified lawyer who advises clients, represents them in the lower courts (9).

7. A person who has committed a crime (8)

8. Distinct grade in the armed forces (4).

9. A soldier in the early days of his training (7).

10. What one is obliged to do by morality,

law, etc. (4).

* The death of a man found hanged in his cell at Stretford station in Manchester will be investigated by the Police Complaints Authority. John Hannon, 42, who had been living in a hostel in Hulme, was arrested on August 9 for breach of bail conditions.

* A police constable has been summonsed for driving without care and attention.

A pedestrian died in a result of a collision with a police car in Kentish Town, north London, in January. PC Barry Chapman must appear at Clerkenwell Magistrates’ Court on August 29.

* Officers in Chester have changed tactics in dealing with aggressive beggars. They will now arrest suspects immediately and put them before the courts. In the past, beggars have been referred to social services or charities, but they have become increasingly more violent when passers-by ignore them.

Unit 7

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