Question 1

Why do prosecutors sometimes discontinue charges or 'drop the case'?

Accepted Answer

A) no evidence 
B) not in the public interest 
C) witness failed to appear 
A) no evidence 
B) not in the public interest 
C) witness failed to appear A,B,C

Question 2

How many cases are heard by magistrates each year in England and Wales?

Accepted Answer

A) five million 
B) three million 
C) two million 
A) five million 
B) three million 
C) two million C

Question 3

Aside from sufficient evidence to have a reasonable prospect of conviction, what other principle should be kept in mind before prosecutors bring a case to court?

Accepted Answer

A) Whether the person is guilty 
B) Whether it is in the public interest 
C) Whether the person is suspected of a serious offence 
A) Whether the person is guilty 
B) Whether it is in the public interest 
C) Whether the person is suspected of a serious offence B

Question 4

Why has plea bargaining been likened to roulette?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why has plea bargaining been likened to...

Question 5

A significant proportion of prisoners on remand will be acquitted at court or have proceedings against them dropped.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

How are defendants protected from being convicted on evidence that is unfairly obtained?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How are defendants protected from being convicted...

Question 7

How has the role of the CPS changed over the past two decades?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How has the role of the CPS...

Question 8

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)'s role is to:

Accepted Answer

A) Review suspected miscarriages of justice 
B) Report back to the Court of Appeal 
C) decide on matters of innocence and guilt 
A) Review suspected miscarriages of justice 
B) Report back to the Court of Appeal 
C) decide on matters of innocence and guilt

Question 9

The 12 men and women of the jury must agree unanimously on their verdict.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What is the role of pre-trial 'disclosure of evidence'?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the role of pre-trial 'disclosure...

Question 11

At Crown Court the cases are presided over by a judge.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

How can the downgrading of charges by the CPS occur?

Accepted Answer

A) by accepting a plea of guilty to a lesser offence 
B) by reducing charges to a lower level than was first intended 
C) by paying compensation to the victim 
A) by accepting a plea of guilty to a lesser offence 
B) by reducing charges to a lower level than was first intended 
C) by paying compensation to the victim

Question 13

There have been a number of high profile miscarriages of justice in the UK since the 1970s. These have included:

Accepted Answer

A) The 'Guildford Four' 
B) the 'Cardiff Three' 
C) the 'Birmingham Six' 
D) the 'Manchester Five' 
A) The 'Guildford Four' 
B) the 'Cardiff Three' 
C) the 'Birmingham Six' 
D) the 'Manchester Five'

Question 14

What was the result of Royal Commission in 1981 concerning the 1972 Confait case?

Accepted Answer

A) More people were executed 
B) The murder rate reduced 
C) the establishment of the CPS 
A) More people were executed 
B) The murder rate reduced 
C) the establishment of the CPS

Question 15

What percentage of defendants plead guilty in magistrates' courts?

Accepted Answer

A) 20- 25% 
B) 90-95% 
C) 70- 75% 
A) 20- 25% 
B) 90-95% 
C) 70- 75%

Question 16

Why is it generally assumed that people will be granted bail?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it generally assumed that people...

Question 17

What is the role of district judges?

Accepted Answer

A) to make judgements where the magistrates are unable to do so 
B) to hear the more serious cases in the magistrates' courts 
C) to travel around the district making sure the magistrates are sentencing properly 
A) to make judgements where the magistrates are unable to do so 
B) to hear the more serious cases in the magistrates' courts 
C) to travel around the district making sure the magistrates are sentencing properly

Question 18

As volunteers drawn from the local area, magistrates are representative of the wider population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Judges are drawn from a wide range of social backgrounds.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 27: Criminal Courts and the Court Process

Why do prosecutors sometimes discontinue charges or 'drop the case'?

How many cases are heard by magistrates each year in England and Wales?

Aside from sufficient evidence to have a reasonable prospect of conviction, what other principle should be kept in mind before prosecutors bring a case to court?

Why has plea bargaining been likened to roulette?

A significant proportion of prisoners on remand will be acquitted at court or have proceedings against them dropped.

How are defendants protected from being convicted on evidence that is unfairly obtained?

How has the role of the CPS changed over the past two decades?

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)'s role is to:

The 12 men and women of the jury must agree unanimously on their verdict.

What is the role of pre-trial 'disclosure of evidence'?

At Crown Court the cases are presided over by a judge.

How can the downgrading of charges by the CPS occur?

There have been a number of high profile miscarriages of justice in the UK since the 1970s. These have included:

What was the result of Royal Commission in 1981 concerning the 1972 Confait case?

What percentage of defendants plead guilty in magistrates' courts?

Why is it generally assumed that people will be granted bail?

What is the role of district judges?

As volunteers drawn from the local area, magistrates are representative of the wider population.

Judges are drawn from a wide range of social backgrounds.

Understanding Crime and Criminology

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