Vocabulary

ascertain v выяснять; устанавливать; определять

compliance n выполнение, соблюдение (правовых норм)

embodiment n воплощение, олицетворение; embody v воплощать; содержать

gap n пробел

implementation n выполнение, осуществление

provision n условие, положение (договора, закона)

social benefit n пособие по социальному страхованию

solely [‘səulli] adv исключительно, только

substantiate v обосновывать

welfare payment n выплата пособия

Text b Application of Law Enforcement

The state has many ways of making sure that citizens obey the law. It makes the public aware of what the law is and tries to encourage social support for law and order. It uses militia to investigate crimes and catch criminals. It authorizes courts to complete the investigation of criminal and civil offences and to pass sentences to punish the guilty and deter others. And it makes efforts to re-educate and reform people who have broken the law.

Ignorance of the law is almost never a defence for breaking it. Governments usually expect citizens to be aware of the laws which affect their lives. Sometimes this seems very harsh, for example, when the law is very technical. However, there are many laws, such as those prohibiting theft, assault and dangerous driving, which simply reflect social and moral attitudes to everyday behaviour. In such cases a person knows he is breaking the law, even if he doesn’t know exactly which law it is.

The state combats crime through the courts, the Prosecutor's Office, investigating authorities, state security bodies, militia and other law-enforcement agencies. They have to perform a series of acts to establish the fact of the crime, discover the offender and determine the penalty to be imposed in virtue of law.

After receiving information that a crime has been committed, the investigator, for instance, commences the preliminary investigation: he inspects the scene of the crime, summons and questions witnesses, detains suspects. The militia, the investigator, the prosecutor and the court may make such demands only within the power vested in them by law.

The challenge of the militia has always been to protect state and personal property, to maintain public law and order, to safeguard the rights and interests of citizens. To fulfil these functions properly the Internal Affairs bodies compose several departments. The Criminal Detection Department is to detect the criminal, that is to locate and arrest him (her). The Criminal Investigation Department collects evidence to prove the guilt or innocence of a suspect. The Economic Crimes Department reveals the economic offences. The mission of the State Inspection of Road Traffic Security is to regulate safety in the roads. The Juvenile Inspection is responsible for prevention of juvenile delinquency.

Vocabulary

challenge n стремление

combat crime v бороться с преступностью

commence v начинать

commit a crime v совершить преступление

Criminal Investigation Department n уголовный розыск

detain a suspect v задержать подозреваемого

deter v сдерживать; удерживать от совершения чего-либо

discover v находить

impose a penalty v налагать наказание

investigator n следователь

in virtue of law в силу закона

maintain law and order поддерживать правопорядок

militia [mı' lı∫ə] n милиция

obey the law v следовать закону, подчиняться закону

offence n правонарушение, преступление

offender n правонарушитель

perform acts v проводить действия

pose v создавать (проблему); представлять

preliminary n предварительное следствие

the Prosecutor’s Office n прокуратура

prohibit v запрещать

summon v вызывать

state security bodies органы госбезопасности

Reading tasks

Answer these questions.

1 What does implementation of law provisions mean?

2 What is the peculiarity of law enforcement?

3 What are the major requirements to law enforcement acts?

4 Why can’t law enforcement acts be sources of law?

5 How is law enforcement executed?

6 What are the main stages of law enforcement?

7 How do you understand ‘a gap in a law’?

8 What can be done when a gap in a law is discovered?

9 Through what bodies does the state combat crime?

10 What acts must these bodies perform?

11 What does the investigator do after receiving information that a crime has

been committed?

12 What functions does the militia have to perform in the law-enforcement

process?

13 Is ignorance of the law a defence for breaking it? Give reasons for it.

14 What are the ways of making sure that citizens obey the law?

Language focus

Complete the sentences using a gerund or an infinitive in brackets.

A

The Interior Minister hopes 1) _____ (to put / putting) an end to the eternal rivalry of Russian law-enforcement agencies, but these forces are somewhat sceptical to his good will. “It is expedient 2) _____ (to vest / vesting) coordination of the operational activities of law – enforcement agencies in the sphere of 3) _____ (to fight / fighting) organized crime to me by a presidential decree”, the Interior Minister wrote in a classified letter to the Russian President.

B

1 I persuaded my client _____ (to present / presenting) the tape as evidence.

2 They were excited about _____ (to hear / hearting) the President.

3 Supervision on _____ (to observe / observing) the laws is carried out by the

Office of the Prosecutor General.

4 She denied _____ (to steal / stealing) the money.

5 Our neighbour threatened _____ (to call / calling) the police if we didn’t stop

the noise.

6 The customs officer ordered him _____ (to open / opening) the case.