Understanding Criminal Courts

In the UK, there are different court systems for different regions: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Each system handles criminal cases in unique ways.

Magistrates’ Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts

  • England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: Minor criminal cases are heard in a Magistrates’ Court.
  • Scotland: Minor offences are dealt with in a Justice of the Peace Court.

Who are Magistrates and Justices of the Peace?

  • They are local community members.
  • In England and Wales, they usually work unpaid and do not need legal qualifications. They receive training and have legal advisers to help them.
  • They decide if the accused is guilty or not and what the punishment should be.

Example: If someone is accused of stealing a bike, a Magistrate will decide if the person is guilty and what their punishment should be.

In Northern Ireland, cases are heard by a District Judge, who is a legally trained and paid professional.

Crown Courts and Sheriff Courts

  • England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: Serious crimes are tried in a Crown Court with a judge and a jury.
  • Scotland: Serious cases go to a Sheriff Court, and the most serious cases, like murder, go to a High Court.

Juries:

  • Juries are made up of local people chosen randomly.
  • In England and Wales, a jury has 12 members, while in Scotland, it has 15 members.

Example: If someone is accused of robbery, their case will be heard in a Crown Court where a jury will listen to the evidence and decide the verdict.

Verdicts:

  • Juries decide whether the accused is guilty or not guilty.
  • In Scotland, there is also a verdict of not proven.

Youth Courts

  • In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, if the accused is aged 10 to 17, their case is usually heard in a Youth Court.
  • The Youth Court has specially trained magistrates or a District Judge, and parents or carers must attend.

Example: If a teenager is caught vandalising a wall, their case will go to a Youth Court.

Privacy Rules:

  • Youth Courts are closed to the public, and the names or photos of young offenders cannot be published in the media.

In Scotland, there is a system called the Children’s Hearings System for young offenders, while in Northern Ireland, there is a youth conferencing system to decide how to deal with children who break the law.

Questions for the Life in the UK Test

Easy Level Questions

  1. What type of cases are usually heard in a Magistrates’ Court?
    • A) Serious crimes
    • B) Minor crimes
    • C) Civil cases
    • D) Appeals
  2. Who usually makes decisions in Youth Courts?
    • A) A judge only
    • B) A jury
    • C) Specially trained magistrates
    • D) Justices of the Peace
  3. How many members are in a jury in England and Wales?
    • A) 10
    • B) 12
    • C) 15
    • D) 20
  4. What is the role of a District Judge in Northern Ireland?
    • A) To decide cases alone
    • B) To handle minor offences
    • C) To oversee jury trials
    • D) To hear cases and make legal decisions
  5. What verdicts can a jury give in Scotland?
    • A) Guilty only
    • B) Not guilty only
    • C) Guilty, not guilty, or not proven
    • D) None of the above
  6. What is the purpose of a Youth Court?
    • A) To punish adults
    • B) To deal with young offenders
    • C) To hear family disputes
    • D) To provide civil justice
  7. Who supports magistrates in their work?
    • A) Legal advisers
    • B) Other magistrates
    • C) Public lawyers
    • D) Judges
  8. What happens if someone is found guilty in a Magistrates’ Court?
    • A) They can appeal immediately
    • B) They get a sentence decided by magistrates
    • C) They are released
    • D) They must go to a Crown Court
  9. How are jury members chosen?
    • A) They volunteer
    • B) They are elected
    • C) They are chosen randomly from the electoral register
    • D) They are appointed by the court
  10. In Scotland, what cases are heard in the High Court?
    • A) Minor offences
    • B) Serious cases like murder
    • C) Youth cases
    • D) Civil cases

Medium Level Questions

  1. What is the main difference between Magistrates’ Courts and Crown Courts?
    • A) Magistrates’ Courts deal with serious crimes.
    • B) Crown Courts have juries and judges.
    • C) Magistrates’ Courts are only in Scotland.
    • D) Crown Courts are only for civil cases.
  2. In Northern Ireland, who hears cases in Youth Courts?
    • A) Magistrates
    • B) District Judges
    • C) Justices of the Peace
    • D) A jury
  3. What type of cases does the Children’s Hearings System in Scotland handle?
    • A) Civil cases
    • B) Cases involving young offenders
    • C) Appeals
    • D) Family disputes
  4. What is the role of a jury during a trial?
    • A) To present evidence
    • B) To decide the verdict based on evidence
    • C) To sentence the accused
    • D) To question witnesses
  5. In Youth Courts, who must attend with the young person?
    • A) A lawyer
    • B) A police officer
    • C) Parents or carers
    • D) The judge
  6. Which court handles the most serious criminal cases in Scotland?
    • A) Sheriff Court
    • B) Magistrates’ Court
    • C) High Court
    • D) Justice of the Peace Court
  7. How are Justices of the Peace (JPs) different from magistrates in Northern Ireland?
    • A) They are paid professionals.
    • B) They handle serious crimes.
    • C) They do not need training.
    • D) They are elected officials.
  8. What must happen for someone to be excused from jury duty?
    • A) They must pay a fee.
    • B) They must provide a good reason.
    • C) They must apply for exemption.
    • D) They must know a judge.
  9. What is the maximum number of members in a jury in Scotland?
    • A) 10
    • B) 12
    • C) 15
    • D) 20
  10. What do magistrates do if they find a person guilty?
    • A) They set them free.
    • B) They decide on a punishment.
    • C) They appeal the case.
    • D) They transfer it to a Crown Court.

Hard Level Questions

  1. What is the main function of a legal adviser in a Magistrates’ Court?
    • A) To represent the accused
    • B) To advise magistrates on the law
    • C) To present evidence
    • D) To oversee the trial
  2. In which situation would a case go from a Youth Court to a Crown Court?
    • A) If the accused is under 10
    • B) If the accused has a serious charge
    • C) If the parents request it
    • D) If the magistrates are unsure
  3. What happens if a jury cannot reach a decision?
    • A) The accused is released
    • B) A retrial may be ordered
    • C) The case is dismissed
    • D) They must continue deliberating forever
  4. Which of the following is true about jury service?
    • A) You can choose not to attend.
    • B) Only men can serve on a jury.
    • C) Everyone must serve unless excused.
    • D) It is a paid position.
  5. What is a key difference between the Youth Courts in England and Scotland?
    • A) Scotland does not have Youth Courts.
    • B) Youth Courts in England are open to the public.
    • C) Scotland has the Children’s Hearings System.
    • D) Youth Courts in England only handle civil cases.
  6. What is the primary role of a sheriff in Scotland?
    • A) To handle minor offences
    • B) To oversee Crown Court cases
    • C) To hear serious criminal cases
    • D) To manage Youth Courts
  7. How many verdicts can a jury give in Scotland?
    • A) 1
    • B) 2
    • C) 3
    • D) 4
  8. Who can be a juror in the UK?
    • A) Anyone over 18 with no criminal conviction
    • B) Only people with legal training
    • C) Only men
    • D) Anyone over 21
  9. What is the purpose of youth conferencing in Northern Ireland?
    • A) To decide if a young person is guilty
    • B) To help the young person and community understand the crime
    • C) To punish the young person
    • D) To represent the young person in court
  10. What is a common reason for jury duty exemption?
    • A) Being a student
    • B) Having a criminal record
    • C) Being a foreign national
    • D) Having no job

Answers

Easy Level Answers

  1. B) Minor crimes
  2. C) Specially trained magistrates
  3. B) 12 members
  4. D) To hear cases and make legal decisions
  5. C) Guilty, not guilty, or not proven
  6. B) To deal with young offenders
  7. A) Legal advisers
  8. B) They get a sentence decided by magistrates
  9. C) They are chosen randomly from the electoral register
  10. B) Serious cases like murder

Medium Level Answers

  1. B) Crown Courts have juries and judges.
  2. B) District Judges
  3. B) Cases involving young offenders
  4. B) To decide the verdict based on evidence
  5. C) Parents or carers
  6. C) High Court
  7. A) They are paid professionals.
  8. B) They must provide a good reason.
  9. C) 15
  10. B) They decide on a punishment.

Hard Level Answers

  1. B) To advise magistrates on the law
  2. B) If the accused has a serious charge
  3. B) A retrial may be ordered
  4. C) Everyone must serve unless excused.
  5. C) Scotland has the Children’s Hearings System.
  6. C) To hear serious criminal cases
  7. C) 3
  8. A) Anyone over 18 with no criminal conviction
  9. B) To help the young person and community understand the crime
  10. B) Having a criminal record