Английский язык модуль 5

rested. A warrant for arrest is necessary unless the pressure of time requires immediate action (e.g. before the suspect flees).

Finally, criminal charges must be lodged against the defendant. Depending on the state, the charges, usually called either an indictment (by a grand jury) or information (by a magistrate or police officer) and must be based on probable cause, preponderance of evidence, or prosecutor’s evidence that supports a belief in the defendant’s guilt.

Most cases are resolved without a trial. Prosecutors and defenсe counsel usually reach a plea bargain. The judge must decide whether the guilty plea was freely given and whether there was some factual basis for the plea, but judicial disapproval of an agreed-upon plea is rare.

BURDEN OF PROOF.At the trial there is crucial difference between criminal and civil cases in the level of proof required.Acivil plaintiff merely needs a preponderance of the evidence; the judge or jury need only find that the evidence favors the plaintiff over the defendant. A successful criminal prosecution requires proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The prosecuting counsel opens the case with a short description of the events of the crime and calls his witnesses.After taking an oath by the witness the prosecuting counsel begins his examination by asking the witness his/her name, profession, place of domicile. In English law, witnesses are not allowed to make lengthy statements to the court. It is the responsibility of the counsel to examine the witness in such a way as to produce the evidence he needs.

THE ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS. The session is opened by the court being called to order the Clerk of the Court. “The court will come to order.All rise”. Everyone stands up and waits for the judge to take his seat. The accused is brought into the dock and the clerk asks for his or her name. The accused answers with the appropriate plea.

In English law a person is innocent until proven guilty. This means that in a trial the burden of proof is on the prosecution and if the prosecution cannot establish a reasonable cause for conviction then the court must acquit the accused.

The defendant cannot be called by the prosecution and does not have to be called by the defence. However, once called, the defendant is subject to crossexamination by the prosecution.

The defence counsel and the prosecution make a speech, summarizing the case. The judge sums up the case from both points of view, instructing the jury as to the law. He reminds the jury that if there is any doubt at all in their minds their duty is to acquit. The jury retires to the jury room to decide its verdict.A

11

verdict “not guilty” does not necessarily mean that the judge or jury believe the defendant to be innocent. It is simply a finding that there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

EVIDENCE. Criminal trial courts have numerous, complex rules about what evidence is admissible, and how it may be introduced. The rules are supposed to exclude irrelevant, unreliable, or unfairly prejudicial matters, especially in jury cases. (the system presupposes that a judge is less likely to be swayed by improper evidence.) The judge’s or jury’s verdict is to be based solely on the evidence properly brought out at the trial. Otherwise proper, highly relevant evidence may be excluded because it was obtained in violation of a defendant’s constitutional rights. Criminal appeals are often decided on such so-called technical issues.

APPEALS. The appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court’s decision. The specific procedures for appealing can vary greatly depending on the type of case and jurisdiction where the case was prosecuted. The appeal system is mostly for the benefit of the defendant, but it is possible for the prosecution to appeal for a retrial.

Appellate courts cannot overturn a verdict simply because they disagree with it - e.g., with how the jury weighed the evidence and decided to believe one witness more than another witness. Appeals tend to focus on problems in the trial judge’s legal ruling, the instructions to the jury, and the trial procedures, not simply in the judge’s factual interpretations.

5.Работавпарах.Прочитайтетекст«CriminalProcedure»ещераз. Найдите словосочетания со словом «evidence». установите, в каком контексте они упомянуты в тексте. Составьте предложения с этими словосочетаниями.

Evidence

12

6. Выберите правильный вариант ответа в соответствии с содержанием текста.

1.At the first stage of a criminal case before trial … .

a)the police collect evidence

b)the crime is reported and investigated

c)the suspected person must be interviewed by the police

2.Aperson may be arrested if there … .

a)is a suspicion of the police officer

b)is a testimony of witnesses

c)are reasonable grounds

3.At the final stage … .

a)the suspected person must be arrested by the police

b)criminal charges must be brought against somebody

c)the suspected person must be taken into custody

4.Asuccessful criminal prosecution requires … .

a)a preponderance of evidence

b)proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

c)that evidence favors the prosecution over the defendant

5.There is a special order of proceedings and the session starts with … .

a)the prosecutor’s statement

b)the defence opening speech

c)the appropriate plea of the accused

6.The verdict “not guilty” means that … .

a)the defendant is acquitted

b)there was insufficient evidence to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubt

c)the jury considers the defendant to be innocent

7.Appellate courts exist to … .

a)find the defendant guilty

b)impose a more severe punishment

c)correct errors in the application of the law

13

7. Выразите согласие/несогласие со следующими утверждениями.

1.When opening the session the Clerk of the Court is called.

2.One of the main principles of the English law is that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

3.Summarizing the case only the prosecution makes a speech.

4.There are no special rules about what evidence is admissible in criminal proceedings.

5.In jury cases the judge is responsible for legal ruling of trial proce-

dures.

6.The procedures for appealing are the same in every court of law.

8. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту «Criminal procedure».

1.How many stages does a criminal case pass?

2.Why is the warrant for arrest necessary?

3.What do criminal charges depend on?

4.How may a case be resolved without a trial?

5.How does the prosecuting counsel manage to produce the appropriate evidence in court?

6.What kind of evidence can be excluded?

7.What is the purpose of appeals?

9. Соотнесите английские слова с их дефинициями.

1) defendant	a) a person who suffers injury, loss, or death as
	a result of criminal activity or other circum-
	stances.
2) victim	b) the person who leads a trial and decides on the
	sentence.
3) jury	c) someone who appears in a court of law to say
	what they know about a crime or other event
4) prosecution	d) the party against which a legal action or suit is
	brought in a court of law.
5) judge	e) a specific number of lay people, selected as pre-
	scribed by law to render a verdict in a trial.
6) witness	f) the party that initiates a criminal case.

10. Работа в парах. На основе текста «Criminal Procedure» установите всех участников уголовного процесса.

14

11. Cоставьте на основе прочитанного текста резюме, в котором опишите стадии уголовного процесса и роль каждого участника этого процесса.

Unit 4. The criminal code of the Russian Federation

1. Соотнесите выражения из левой колонки с определениями из правой колонки. Переведите выражения на русский язык.

1) to commit a crime or an of-		a) to have a case judged in court
fence		b) to say someone is guilty
2) toaccusesomebodyofacrime
3) tochargesomeonewith(mur-		c) to do something illegal
der)		d) to set someone free after a prison
4) to plead guilty or not guilty
		sentence
5) to defend/prosecute someone		e) what the judge does after a verdict
in court		of guilty
6) to pass verdict on an accused		f) to argue for or against someone in a
person		trial
7) to sentence someone to a		g) to swear in court that one is guilty or
punishment		otherwise
8) to acquit an accused person		h) to bring someone to court
of a charge		i) to decide whether they are guilty or
9) to release someone from pris-
on/jail		not
10) to be tried		j) to decide in court that someone is
		not guilty (the opposite of to convict
		someone)

2. Подберите русские соответствия для английских слов и выражений. Они помогут вам в переводе текста.

1)	General part	a) бизнесмен, предприниматель
2) assessment of punishment		b) общая часть
3) criminal responsibility		c) тяжкие преступления
4)	Special part	d) принуждение
5) grave crimes		e) определение наказания

15

6) insane	f) лишение человека жизни, убийство
7) self-defense	g) особенная часть
8) assaultive conduct	h) неприкосновенность
9) homicide	i) уголовная ответственность
10) inviolability	j) самооборона
11) entrepreneur	k) агрессивное поведение
12) duress	l) душевнобольной

3. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is divided into a General Part, containing general principles relating to criminal responsibility and assessment of punishment and a Special Part, listing various offenses and punishments.

Under the general part persons are subject to the criminal law when they reach the age of sixteen years for normal crimes, and fourteen years for murder and other grave crimes. Persons who are insane at the time of commission of a crime may not be convicted thereof.

The Criminal Code introduces some factors that exclude guilt to go along with traditional justifications such as self-defence or necessity or excuses such as duress. These include «innocent infliction of harm,” by persons who, due to objective or subjective (mental) circumstances, could not have appreciated the danger of their acts or have prevented the harm or who inflict harm while taking a socially useful justified risk. First-time offenders who commit less serious crimes can be freed of criminal responsibility if they engage in “active remorse” in the form of turning themselves in, aiding in the solving of the crime or making restitution.

The goal of punishment under the Code is the re-establishment of social justice, the rehabilitation of the convicted person, and the prevention of the commission of new crimes. The Code introduces life imprisonment as an alternative to the death penalty.

The Special Part of the Criminal Code contains a typical list of crimes against the person (homicide, sexual offenses, assaultive conduct). A special chapter is devoted to punishment of violations against “the constitutional rights and freedoms of the person and citizen”, among them acts infringing on the inviolability of one's private life, correspondence, and dwelling or on the liberty of confession or assembly.

16

Entrepreneurial activity is protected by the Constitution and regulated "in the criminal law, punishing offences dealing with money laundering, restricting competition, false advertising, securities or credit fraud, fraudulent bankruptcy, tax evasion, and consumer fraud.

New provisions punish “ecological crimes” and “crimes in the sphere of computer information”, including hacking and creating viruses. The Code punishes environmental crimes, some relating to general violation of rules, others to improper handling of dangerous substances such as biological agents or toxins, still others protecting distinct resources such as water, the atmosphere, the sea, the continental shelf, the soil, the subsoil, and flora and fauna. The new Code punishes incitement to national, racial, or religious hatred.

4.Переведите и объясните значения данных слов и выражений.

1.the first time offender

2.constitutional rights and freedoms

3.environmental crimes

4.money laundering

5.tax evasion

6.hacking

7.dangerous substances

8.incitement to national hatred

5.Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты.

1.Освободить от уголовной ответственности.

2.Совершение преступлений.

3.Помогать в раскрытии преступления.

4.Испытывать угрызения совести, раскаяние.

5.Восстановление социальной справедливости.

6.Препятствовать совершению новых преступлений.

7.Пожизненное тюремное заключение как альтернатива смертной казни.

8.Неумышленное причинение вреда.

9.Оценить опасный характер действий.

10.Реабилитация осужденных.

11.Тяжкие преступления.

12.Возместить убытки.

17

6. Передайте содержание текста на английском языке, обращая внимание на перевод выделенных слов и словосочетаний.

Text A. Уголовный процесс в Великобритании

Уголовный процесс в Великобритании проходит в форме состязания (the form of a contest) между обвинением и защитой. Все судебные процессы проходят открыто. Интересы сторон могут быть представлены адвокатами. Уголовный процесс может проходить (to take place)

только в присутствии обвиняемого. Бремя доказывания возложено на обвинителя. Для доказывания вины необходимо представить улики. Предполагается, что человек невиновен до тех пор, пока его вина не доказана.

Text B. Понятие и признаки преступления

Понятие «преступление» является одной из основных категорий уголовного права. Закон устанавливает, что необходимо для осуществления стоящих перед уголовным законодательством задач охраны личности, ее собственности, общественного порядка и безопасности, окружающей среды, конституционного строя Российской Федерации, мира и безопас-

ности человечества от преступных посягательств, а также предупреждения преступлений.

Согласно УК РФ преступление определено как совершенное обще-

ственноопасноедеяние, запрещенное настоящим Кодексом под угрозой наказания. Преступление характеризуется определенными признаками. Ими являются: уголовная противоправность, общественная опасность, виновность и наказуемость.

7. Обсудите высказывания (1—9), сделанные обвиняемыми. Подберите для каждого высказывания вид совершенного преступления, представленного в рамке.

blackmail  burglary  embezzlement  bigamy  forgery  espionage  piracy  murder  bribery

1. “I arrived home late and found that I’d forgotten my keys. I didn’t want to wake my wife up, and I saw there was a ladder in the garden of the house next door. I got the ladder and climbed in. We've just moved house and I didn't realise I was in the wrong street”.

18

2.“I was walking my dog when I saw the gun lying on the ground. I picked it up, — it was still warm, — and at that moment I saw the body lying in the long grass. I went across to look and it was my business partner. That’s when the police arrived”.

3.“I opened the bank account in a false name as a way to help my employer pay less taxIt’s perfectly legal. I kept meaning to tell him, but somehow I just forgot. I bought the villa in France with my own money. It was an inheritance”.

4.“OK, so there are a hundred and twenty-three copies of ‘ Four Weddings and a Funeral’.That’s perfectly true, but I had no intention of selling them. I'm a collector. "Well, this obviously isn’t my suitcase. I’ve never seen these things before in my life”.

5.“I didn’t know she was still alive, I thought she’d died in a car accident. I couldn’t believe it when I saw her walk into the room. Surely you don't think I did this just to get your money?”

6.“You misunderstand me. When I offered him the money I meant it as a gift. I know that life can be difficult for a young man on a police salary, especially if he has a family, young children etcetera. It isn’t easy and I know that. I just wanted to help. I didn’t expect him to do anything in return”.

7.“After leaving the office I realized I’d forgotten my umbrella. I went back in to get it. When I went in I noticed that the photocopier was still turned on. It had been working very badly all day, and I decided to quickly see what was wrong with it before going home. I made a few test copies of documents that were in the office; I didn’t even look at what I was copying. The machine seemed to be working much better. I put the copies in my briefcase - intending to use the other side as notepaper. I don’t believe in wasting paper.At that moment Mr Sanders came out of his office”.

8.“I painted them for pleasure. I had no intention of deceiving people. I never said they were by other people.Yes, I did include the signatures of other artists but that’s because I wanted them to be perfect copies”.

9.“Mr Wills sent me the money to help me in my business venture – I’m trying to start a design agency. He sent me checks every month for $1200.

19

A couple of times he sent extra when I had special expenses. It was always understood that he would participate in the profits of the business when it was running. We didn't write anything down, it was an oral agreement. The photographs I have of him with his secretary have no connection with these payments”.

Unit 5. History of punishment

1.Повторите за преподавателем данные слова, обратите внимание на их произношение.

Theory, ghost, omen, retributive, characteristic, superstition, misfortune, injury, target, frequently, ordeal, judicial, medieval Europe, sympathize, encourage, penal system.

2.Образуйте существительные от глаголов при помощи суффиксов -ment и -tion. Переведите их.

Rehabilitate, treat, impose, accuse, punish, violate, develop, convict, imprison, amend, implement, legislate, execute, restrict, probate, infringe, incarcerate, encourage, define, assassinate, prevent.

-tion	-ment
educate — education	develop — development

3. Соотнесите английские словосочетания с их русскими вариантами, обратите внимание на их перевод. Они помогут вам более детально понять текст.

1) gravity of offence	a) суеверные представления
2) a grip on the lives	b) тяжесть правонарушения
3) public execution	c) пройти испытание судом
4) riot	d) средство мотивации
5) endure the trial	e) суровое испытание
6) innocence	f) беда, несчастье
7) accused	g) беспорядки
8) motivating force	h) приемлемая форма наказания
9) defendant	i) публичная казнь
10) misfortune	j) вина
11) superstitious beliefs	k) сильное влияние на жизнь

20