CRIME AND JUSTICE
TYPES OF CRIME
Crime is in many ways an illness that has afflicted every society on our planet since
man first appeared. The range of crime possible is unfortunately as wide as the
human imagination. Some crimes are financially motivate. The robbing of banks, the
burgling of houses, pickpocketing (kradnúť z vreciek), shoplifting (kradnúť v obchode),
and the smuggling (pašovať) of goods across borders and fraud (podvod) would all
belong to this category. In addition, criminals mugging (prepadnúť) people on the
street, blackmailing (vydierať) people by using information the victim would not like
to be passed on to others, racketeering (vydieranie) and bribery (úplatkárstvo) all
generally belong to this category. Violent crimes include murder, assault and rape.
Other crimes may involve anti-social behaviour. The rise of vandalism and
hooliganism – or which, unfortunately, English football fans are well-known – is a
disturbing phenomenon. Crime may also take on an international aspect as well
Terrorism, including amongst other things the hijacking of planes (únos lietadla) and
suicide bombing (samovražedný atentát), is a crime of which people are increasingly
aware. Furthermore, the ability of governments to engage in was crimes (or state
crimes) is regrettably a reality in the modern world. In our world of famous people
and celebrities reputation is extremely important. As a result, if a famous person
believes his or her reputation has been libelled (dopustiť sa urážky na cti) in
newspaper or magazine or slandered (ohovárať) on television for example, he may
take the guilty party to court and sue(zažalovať) them. If the famous person wins the
case, they will be awarded damages, or compensation, that the one who libelled or
slandered will have to pay.
CAUSES OF CRIME
The reasons or people committing crime are many. Poverty can play a part, as can
social inequality, and of course negative emotions such as greed(chamtivosť),
envy(závisť), jealousy, and anger. The influence of our families and of the
environment we are born into also shapes, amongst other things, our concepts of
what is right and wrong and what is acceptable and what is not. Our outlook
(pohľad) on the world can be greatly influence by the media. Some people feel
that the levels of violence that we all see on a daily basis particularly in films and
in computer games lead directly to a rise in crime.
Crime can also occur due to addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Sometimes,
crime may even be committed (spáchať (zločin)) simply or enjoyment as can be
the case for crimes such as vandalism, shoplifting and joyriding (when a car is
stolen, driven fast and they abandoned).
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Government and societies around the world are constantly trying to find a way to
reduce levels of crime. How can this be done? Of course traditional ways o
dealing with criminals include fining (to fine - pokutovať) petty (bezvyznamný)
criminals for minor crimes, making criminals do community service and sending
more serious criminals to prison. In some parts of the world capital punishment
(trest smrti), more informally known as the death penalty (trest smrti), is used.
This is a punishment that is extremely controversial. Those who support its use
argue that it acts as a deterrent (odstrašujúci postriedok) to, for example
potential murderers. Also they would argue that if the death penalty were in
place, a convicted murderer would not be set free (oslobodiť) at some point and
them be able to murder again. Those against capital punishment argue that
sometimes innocent people are executed (popraviť), that statistics suggest it does
not deter murderers and that murder is murder and the state has no more right
that a person to kill.
There is concern sometimes that while lower level criminals are punished, higher
level criminals with contacts remain free.
THE LEGAL SYSTEM
After someone has been charged by the police with a crime, the accused may be
granted bail (udeliť kauciu) – allowing the accused to pay a fee and remain free
until their trail (súdny proces). If the accused is not granted bail or does not play
bail, they must remain in jail until they are taken to court.
In both the UK and the USA, juries comprising 12 people are used in criminal
courts. The jurors (porotcovia) are ordinary people nor necessarily with any legal
background. They may come from any walk of life and if they are called up, they
must serve on a jury. These jurors listen to the evidence presented by both the
accused´s barrister (obhajca, AmE attorney) (called an attorney in the USA) who
attempts to prove his of her client ´s innocence, and the prosecutor(žalobca)who
attempts to prove the accused´s guilt. At the end of the trial, the jury goes away
to reach a verdict, which they will then give to teh court. Then , the judge will
either acquit the accused or sentence him or her. In some cases, the accused may
believe that there has been a mistrial and appeal against the court´s verdict in
order to have it overturned.
Bilíková, Andrea – Kondelová, Soňa: Yes! Maturita angličtina vyššia úroveň. S .144-147.