legal study

high court – highest court – hears appeals from supreme courts and federal courts

federal court – bank robbery, intellectual property, trade practices

family court – family law, divorce, child custody

state supreme courts – highest court in each state, hear serious criminal cases

district court – intermediate courts, less serious cases

magistrates court – lowest court – minor criminal cases and civil disputes

civil vs criminal law

civil – plaintiff vs defendant

negligence

defamation

property

criminal – prosecutor vs defendant

beyond reasonable doubt

punishment

separation of powers

legislative – makes law – parliament

executive – enforces law – government

judicial – interprets law – courts

sources of law

common law – made by judges through deicsions in court cases

statute law – law made by parliament

constitution – rules governing a country

youth crime

causes

family breakdown

substance abuse

peer influence

levels of government

federal government – immigration, currency, taxation

state government – education, health, transport

local government – community facilities, waste management, local planning

features of law

clarity – clear and understandable

flexibility – adaptable to change

accessibility – accessible to all citizens

purposes of sentencing

retribution – justice for victim and community – punishment

deterrence – discourage potential offenders

rehab – improve offenders ability to re – enter society

incapacitation – protect society

restitution – help repair harm caused by crime – compensation

punitive vs preventative

punitive – punishment

preventative – early intervention and support programs

definition

remedy – enforcing a right or compensating for a violation of a right

defamation – making false statements about someone to damage reputation

negligence – failure to take proper care – resulting in damage or injury

burden of proof – the responsibility of providing a disputed charge or allegation

appellate jurisdiction – courts authority to review decisions of lower courts

precedent – previous case or legal decision

incarceration – imprisonment