Year 8 · Citizenship · Laws and justice · Lesson 3

The courts and the justice system

The courts in England and Wales (magistrates', Crown, youth, county, appeal and Supreme Court), fair trials and juries, roles in a trial and the five aims of sentencing.

18-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

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What your child will learn

Describe the main courts and what they hear
Explain innocent until proven guilty
Describe the roles in a criminal trial
Evaluate sentences using the aims of sentencing

The method

Crime + sentence.
Which aims.
Victim, offender, society.
Judge.

Key words: court, magistrates, Crown Court, jury, judge, sentence, rehabilitation, deterrence.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

What does ‘innocent until proven guilty’ mean?

Step 1: Prove

Answer: a defendant is treated as innocent unless guilt is proved

Question 2

What is the standard of proof in criminal trials?

Step 1: Doubt

Answer: beyond reasonable doubt

Question 3

Where do most criminal cases start?

Step 1: Less serious

Answer: the magistrates' court