8.2 an overview of criminal law

criminal law

an area of law that defines beahviour and conduct that are prohibited

crime

undertaking action agaisnt a existing law

accused

a person charged with a criminal offence but has not been found gulity

prosecution

the party that instutes criminal porceedings against an accused on the behalf of the state

presumption of innocence

the right of a person accused of a crime to be presumed not gulity

burden of proof

the obligation of a party to prove the case the burden of proof, who intitates the action

standard of proof

the degree or extent to which a case must be proven in court

beyond a reasonable doubt

the standard of prove in criminal cases, this requires the prosectuion to prove there is no reasonable doubt

balance of probilities

the standard of proof in civil disputes

summary offence

a minor offence generally heard in a magistrates court

indictable offense

a serious offence generally heard before a judge and a jury in the county court

jury

an indepedent group of people chosen at random to determine questions of fact.

community correction order

a flexible that offenders serve in community