Criminal Courts and Lay People | OCR A-Level Law (H418)
Criminal Courts and Lay People
- 63 questions
- 5 subtopics
- Component 1: The legal system and criminal law
- Component 1
How a criminal case moves through the courts, how it is sentenced, and the part played by magistrates and juries..
It covers the criminal process and classification of offences, appeals and appellate courts, sentencing and the powers of the courts, lay magistrates and juries: selection, role and evaluation.
Sample questions from Criminal Courts and Lay People
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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The criminal process and classification of offences
What are indictable offences and in which court must they be tried?
Show the answer
Indictable offences are the most serious criminal offences, triable only in the Crown Court. -
The criminal process and classification of offences
What is the pre-trial procedure for indictable offences?
Show the answer
A preliminary hearing takes place in the Magistrates' Court before the case is sent to the Crown Court. -
Appeals and appellate courts
On what basis can a case be appealed to the UK Supreme Court from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) or King's Bench Divisional Court?
Show the answer
An appeal can be made on a point of law of general public importance. -
Appeals and appellate courts
On what grounds can a defendant appeal a conviction to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)?
Show the answer
Grounds include that the conviction is unsafe. -
Sentencing and the powers of the courts
What is reparation as an aim of sentencing?
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Reparation involves the offender making amends to victims or the community for the harm caused. -
Sentencing and the powers of the courts
What is a community order as a non-custodial sentence?
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A sentence served in the community that can include various requirements such as unpaid work or curfews. -
Lay magistrates
What residency requirement applies to lay magistrates?
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They must live or work within or near the local justice area for which they are appointed. -
Lay magistrates
What power do lay magistrates have regarding warrants?
Show the answer
They have the power to issue warrants, such as arrest or search warrants.
The 5 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The criminal process and classification of offences | Recall questions on summary, either-way and indictable offences, jurisdiction and pre-trial procedure. | 11 |
| Appeals and appellate courts | Recall questions on grounds of appeal and the routes to the Crown Court, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. | 9 |
| Sentencing and the powers of the courts | Recall questions on the aims of sentencing under section 57 of the Sentencing Act 2020, aggravating and mitigating factors, imprisonment and suspended sentences, and non-custodial sentences from community orders and fines to conditional and absolute discharges. | 15 |
| Lay magistrates | Recall questions on the age, residence and other requirements for lay magistrates, who is disqualified, how they are selected and appointed, and their role in trying cases, issuing warrants, deciding bail and sentencing with the advice of a legally qualified clerk. | 11 |
| Juries: selection, role and evaluation | Recall questions on who is eligible, disqualified or excused from jury service, how jurors are selected and what juries decide, and on the arguments for and against juries, including jury equity, independence, complex evidence, media influence and the secrecy of deliberations. | 17 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
OCR A-Level Law Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 1,624 questions with their answers.