Unit 17 Crime and Punishment

Task 1. Read and memorize the active vocabulary to the text

Crime and Punishment.

a wrong правопорушення

welfare добробут

penalty покарання, штраф

omission бездіяльність

prohibited заборонений

treason зрада

felony кримінальний злочин

misdemeanor провина

to betray зраджувати

mala in se моральне зло

mala prohibita порушення закону

rape насилля, згвалтування

murder вбивство

arson підпал

burglary крадіжка зі зломом

larceny крадіжка

forgery підробка, фальшування

bribery хабарництво

to impose punishment виносити покарання

breach of the law порушення закону

vengeance помста

endeavour намагання, зусилля

misdeed злочин, злодіяння

deterrent засіб стримування

caution попередження, застереження

a wrongdoer правопорушник

to enable давати змогу

law-abiding законослухняний

Task 2. Read and translate the text, write down all the unknown words.

Crime and Punishment

A crime is a wrong which affects the public welfare, a wrong for which the state has prescribed a punishment or penalty. It is an act or omission prohibited by law because it is injurious to the public.

Crimes may be classified as treason, felony and misdemeanor. Treason is the offence in attempting to overthrow the government or in betraying a state into the hands of a foreign power. Felonies are those crimes punishable by death or by imprisonment in a state prison. Felonies are considered serious or grave crimes. Crimes less serious in nature are called misdemeanors.

Sometimes crimes are labeled as mala in se (moral evil) or mala prohibita (crimes prohibited by law). Examples of crimes which are mala in se are murder, rape, arson, burglary, larceny, forgery, bribery, robbery and the like. Examples of crimes standing for mala prohibita are crimes violating government requirements for licensing, corporation law, government regulations for the labeling of products, printing or publishing copyrighted musical compositions without the consent of the owner, bookmaking and the use of gambling apparatus. Violations of the labour law may be included to this list either.

When a court imposes punishment for a breach of the law it shouldn’t be taken as a vengeance but rather as an endeavour to discourage the person who has broken the law from repeating this act.

What is the purpose of punishment?

One purpose is obviously to make the offender to confess for his misdeeds and to assist (him or her) to return to normal life as a useful member of the community. Punishment can also be seen as a deterrent because it cautions other people of what will happen if they are tempted to break the law.

A lot of people believe we should make the punishment "fit for the crime". Those who steal from the others should be deprived of their property. For those who attack others corporal punishment should be used. Murderers should be subject to the principle "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" and automatically receive the death penalty. On the other hand such views may seem cruel and barbaric. Modern human society should demonstrate a more humane attitude to punishment. We have to try to understand why a wrongdoer commits a crime and how and why society has failed to enable him to live a respectable and law-abiding life.

Task 3. Answer the following questions.

1. What is crime?

2. What does the state prescribe a punishment for?

3. How may the crimes be classified?

4. Can you give a definition of a treason?

5. Is it possible to determine the distinction between felonies and misdemeanors?

6. What do we mean when we label crimes as mala in se or mala prohibita?

7. Can you give the examples of felonies?

8. What kind of violations of government requirements stand for mala prohibita?

9. How should the punishment for the breach of the law be taken by the person (the offender)?

10. What is the purpose of punishment?

11. Why may punishment also be seen as a deterrent?

12. Should the punishment be “fit for the crime”?

13. Do you support cruel view on punishment or humane one?

14. Who has to try to understand a wrongdoer?

15. Is it easy to live a respectable and law-abiding life?

Task 4. Pick out from the text all the word combinations with the following words and give their Ukrainian equivalents.

Breach, crime, to provide for, punishment, penalty

Task 5. Complete the following expressions choosing a suitable preposition from the list below; find the best way of expressing them in Ukrainian.

1. A crime is a wrong which affects the public welfare, a wrong … which the state has prescribed a punishment or penalty.

2. A crime is an act made punishable … law.

3. To be found guilty … a criminal offense, it is not necessary to commit the intended crime.

4. The accused is then arrested – either with or without a warrant, depending … the circumstances – and is brought before the magistrate for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to hold the accused … trial.

5. These include the right to be free… unreasonably searches and seizures.

Upon, for, of, for, from, by

Task 6. Translate the following sentences and pay special attention to the underlined words or phrases.

1. Bribery may be triable in the country where the offer is made or accepted.

2. The pedestrian negligence may prevent him from recovering for his injuries in an automobile accident.

3. Once a person is acquitted or has paid the penalty for his crime, he may not thereafter be arrested for the same crime.

4. Forgery must be prosecuted in the country where the forgery was committed.

5. A state court action may involve an injury to a person or property, a breach of contract or a score of other matters.

6. The state legislature has inherent power to define crimes and enact laws punishing them.

Task 7. Make the following sentences complete by translating the phrases in brackets.

1. A crime is an act or omission prohibited by law (оскільки воно є шкідливим для суспільства).

2. ( Злочини можуть бути класифіковані як ) treason, felonies and misdemeanors.

3. Punishment for a crime (може бути накладено лише судом).

4. (Покарання за порушення закону) is not vengeance.

5. A statute (може передбачати) imprisonment in the state prison and a fine.

6. Every individual who sees another person (намагається скоїти злочин) has to do his best (щоб запобігти скоїти злочин).

7. A fine (може вдвічі перевищувати вартість викрадених товарів).

8. It is necessary (виконувати вимоги уряду) for the labeling of products.

Task 8. Complete the following sentences.

1. He was charged with (підпал, вбивство, крадіжка із зломом, крадіжка, підробка або підлог, привласнення або розтрата, порушення авторського права, зрада Батьківщині, хабарництво).

2. Many attempts have been made to propose (визначення злочину).

3. The criminal law studies the mental condition of the offender both for (покарання і попередження покарання).

4. The law distinguishes between (кримінальним і громадянським правопорушенням).

5. To prevent crime is more important than (покарання за скоєний злочин).

Task 9. Change each sentence by choosing an appropriate synonym from the list below for the underlined words.

Penalty, omission, perpetrate, failure, impose, to be about to do something, without the consent of, offence, affect.

1. A Bill can’t become an Act of parliament without the assent of the Monarch.

2. A person can be convicted of such a crime as treason only on the testimony of two witnesses, or confession in open court.

3. Punishment is the consequence imposed upon the perpetrator for the violation of the law or the violation of a personal right.

4. The determination of the extent of the claimant’s negligence is left to the court and jury.

5. When the court determines a criminal case it lays on punishment upon the accused.

6. He was going to explain his innocence but failed.

7. A crime is an act or negligence which influences the public welfare.

8. People who commit this kind of crime are not ordinary criminals.

9. Negligent act is the omission of a duty that should have been performed.

Task 10. Match each word on the left with the appropriate definition on the right.

1. an arsonist a) attacks and robs people, often in the streets

2. a shop-lifter b) sets fire to property illegally

3. a mugger c) is anyone who breaks the law

4. an offender d) breaks into houses to steal

5. a vandal e) steals from shops while acting as an ordinary

customer

6. a burglar f) kills someone

7. a murderer g) deliberately causes damage to property

8. a kidnapper h) steals things from people’s pockets in

crowded places

9. a pickpocket i) gets secret information from another country

10) an accomplice j) buys and sells drugs illegally

11) a drug dealer k) takes away people by force and demands

money for their return

12) a spy l) helps a criminal in a criminal act

13) a terrorist m) uses violence for political reasons

14) an assassin n) causes damage or disturbance in public

places

15) a hooligan o) hides on a ship or plane to get a free journey

16) a stowaway p) takes control of a plane by force and makes

the pilot change course

17) a thief q) murders for political reasons or a reward

18) a hijacker r) is someone who steals

19) a forger s) makes counterfeit (false) money or signatures

20) a robber t)is a member of a criminal group

21) a smuggler u) steals money, etc. by force from peple or

places

22) a traitor v) marries illegally, being married already

23) a gangster w) is a soldier who runs away from the army

24) a deserter x) brings goods into a country illegally without

paying tax

25) a bigamist y) illegally carries drugs into another country

26) drug smuggler z) betrays his or her country to another state

Task 11. Topics for discussion.

1. Crime stems from the breakdown of traditional social norms.

2. Family and social control are the most effective means of crime prevention.

3. Greater public understanding of the crime problem is important for the apprehension and conviction of criminals, their rehabilitation, and the prevention of crime.

4. Capital punishment creates, it does not solve problem.

5. There is no room for capital punishment in civilized society.

Supplementary tasks

Task 1. Read the text and write down new legal terms. Translate them and learn.