WJEC A-Level Law 603-1978-1
Law Making in Wales and the UK
Delegated Legislation
Statutory Interpretation
Judicial Precedent
The Civil Courts and Dispute Resolution
The Criminal Process and the Criminal Courts
Legal Personnel and the Judiciary
Access to Justice and Funding
Tort: Rules and Theory
Tort: Negligence
Tort: Occupiers' Liability
Tort: Remedies
Human Rights: Rules and TheoryHuman rights
Human Rights: Key Convention ProvisionsHuman rights
Human Rights: RestrictionsHuman rights
Human Rights: EnforcementHuman rights
Human Rights: Protection and ReformHuman rights
Contract: Rules and TheoryContract
Contract: FormationContract
Contract: TermsContract
Contract: Misrepresentation and DuressContract
Contract: DischargeContract
Contract: RemediesContract
Criminal Law: Rules and TheoryCriminal
Criminal Law: General Elements of LiabilityCriminal
Criminal Law: Offences Against the PersonCriminal
Criminal Law: Property OffencesCriminal
Criminal Law: DefencesCriminal
Criminal Law: Preliminary OffencesCriminal
Criminal Law: Rules and Theory
The definition of crime and the purposes of criminal law
- 3 things to know
- A2 Units 3 and 4
Overview
Recall questions on the line between crime and civil wrong, why proceedings are brought in the Crown's name, retribution, deterrence and denunciation, the age of responsibility, and doli incapax.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Give the two elements the prosecution must normally prove for a criminal offence.
Why is a criminal case brought in the name of the Crown rather than the victim?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
How is a crime usually defined in English law?
Model answer
A crime is conduct forbidden by the state that carries a punishment imposed on behalf of the state, prosecuted in the name of the Crown rather than by the victim.
- 2
Give the two elements the prosecution must normally prove for a criminal offence.
Model answer
The prosecution must prove the actus reus, the prohibited conduct or state of affairs, and the mens rea, the required guilty mind.
- 3
Why is a criminal case brought in the name of the Crown rather than the victim?
Model answer
A crime is treated as a wrong against society as a whole, so the state prosecutes on the public's behalf and the victim appears as a witness rather than as a party.
- 4
Distinguish a crime from a civil wrong by who brings the action and what the court can order.
Model answer
A crime is prosecuted by the state and punished by sentence, while a civil wrong is sued on by the injured party and remedied by compensation or an injunction.
- 5
Explain how one incident can give rise to both criminal and civil proceedings.
Model answer
A dangerous driver may be prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving and separately sued in negligence by the family, because the two systems pursue punishment and compensation respectively.
- 6
Name the five purposes of sentencing now set out in section 57 of the Sentencing Act 2020.
Model answer
Punishment of offenders, reduction of crime including by deterrence, reform and rehabilitation of offenders, protection of the public, and reparation to those affected by the offence.
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