IV. Below is a range of sentences that may be imposed. Work in pairs and match each sentence to its definition. Then ask a partner a definition for him(her) to guess.

Sentence	Definition
bond	a) When two or more terms of imprisonment are served together.
capital punishment	b) A place for long-term incarceration for a crime.
jail	c) A place for confinement for time periods longer than those usual for a police station lock-up and shorter than those usual for a prison.
parole	d) Unpaid work undertaken pursuant to a court order upon conviction for an offence in lieu of a sentence of imprisonment.
imprisonment	e) A release from prison, before a sentence is finished, that depends on a person “keeping clean” and doing what he or she is supposed to do while out. If the person fails to meets the conditions, the rest of the sentence must be served.
probation	f) Conduct required for criminals to get out of jail early or other privileges while in prison.
concurrent sentence	g) A sentence (usually “jail time”) that the judge allows the convicted person to avoid serving (e.g. if the person continues on good behavior, completes community service, etc.).
binding over	h) A document that promises to pay money if a particular future event happens, or a sum of money that is put up and will be lost if that event happens.
suspended sentence	i) An act by which the court requires a bond or bail money.
peace bond	j) The sentencing of a criminal to a period of time during which they will be deprived of their freedom.
community service	k) A bond, required by a judge of a person likely to “breach the peace”, to guarantee the person’s good behavior for a period of time.
determinate sentence	l) An exact prison term that is set by law, rather than one that may be shortened for good behavior.
prison	m) A kind of punishment given out as part of a sentence, which means that instead of jailing a person convicted of a crime, a judge will order that the person reports to an officer regularly and according to a set schedule.
good behavior	n) The most severe of all sentences: that of death. Also known as the death penalty.

h

V. Look through the following offences and define which are major offences and which are minor. Then look at the forms of punishment and decide which is appropriate for each offence. Make up sentences as in the example.

Example: Murder is a major offence. I think that someone who murders somebody should be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Offences murder hijacking an aircraft kidnapping littering writing graffiti on a public building stealing a car pickpocketing stealing sweets making noise late at night being on a bus without a ticket (stowaway) violent behavior in a football stadium toxic waste pollution parking a car illegally

Punishment a. to be sent to life imprisonment b.to be sent to prison c.to be fined a large/small amount of money d.to be given a suspended sentence e.to do community service f.to be given a warning g. disqualification from driving

VI.Discuss in pairs what, if any, punishment you think would be appropriate for the following people.

1. A single employed parent with five children stole £50 worth of food from a grocery store.

2. Two children aged twelve and eleven deliberately damaged a railway line. As the result, a train came off the line & several people were injured.

3. A teenage computer-hacker managed to break into the National Bank computer system. He changed polite recorded greetings to rude messages, added bomb threats and wiped advertisers’ orders.

4. Eric needed a lot of money for a medical operation for his mother. He robbed a bank to get it.

5. Samantha is a professional burglar. She stole a lot of silver from the house of a rich family.

Here are some useful phrases:

- to commit a crime

- to charge someone with

- to accuse someone of

- to pass verdict on

- to sentence someone to

- to send someone to prison

- to fine someone a sum of money

DIALOGUE

This is an interview with an experienced store detective who has been working for more than 15 years.

А: Что заставляет людей совершать такое рискованное и бессмысленное преступление, как магазинная кража?

Детектив: Трудно сказать … Почему люди нарушают закон, если знают, что могут рано или поздно понести наказание?

А: Но ведь украсть ценную вещь в магазине среди бела дня – то же самое, что совать голову в петлю?

Детектив: Да, вы правы. Преступник-одиночка очень быстро становится «жертвой» правосудия. Но если это целая банда грабителей, то поймать ее сложно.

А: Почему?

Детектив: У них есть своя система: один отвлекает внимание продавца, другой крадет товары, третий не позволяет никому приближаться к человеку, который несет награбленное.

А: Это доказывает, что магазинные воришки не глупы.

Детектив: Вы правы. Хотя они наносят ущерб магазину, у меня нет чувства неприязни к ним. Эти банды не дают мне расслабиться. Я восхищен их изобретательностью.

А: Что вы говорите! А какое наказание ждет магазинного вора? Тюрьма?

Детектив: Это зависит от требований истца. Обвиняемый обязан возместить убытки, заплатить штраф. Тюрьма…Я думаю тюрьма – это слишком суровое наказание в данном случае. Нужно делать различие между преступлениями: кража в магазине – это не поджог и не изнасилование. Все должен решать суд. Моя задача – поймать преступника.

Vocabulary:

1. it’s hard to say – трудно сказать

2. to put a head in a noose – совать голову в петлю

3. antipathy – неприязнь

4. (the) gang – банда

5. loot - ограбленное

6. the goods – товары

7. valuable – ценный, дорогой

8. to divert – отвлекать внимание

9. to obstruct – препятствовать

10. to relax – ослабить внимание

11. plaintiff’s demands – требования истца

12. to pay damages – возместить убытки