Unit 3 Area of Study 1 - The Victorian criminal justice system
The Victorian criminal justice system The Victorian criminal justice system is used to determine whether an accused person is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of an offence for which they are charged, and to impose sanctions where guilt has been found or pleaded. The system involves a range of institutions including courts (the Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Supreme Court) and others available to assist an accused.
In this area of study students explore the criminal justice system, its range of personnel and institutions and the various means it uses to determine a criminal case.
Students investigate the rights of the accused and of victims, and explore the purposes and types of sanctions and sentencing considerations.
Students consider factors that affect the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice. They examine recent reforms from the past four years and recommended reforms to enhance the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice.
Students synthesise and apply legal principles and information relevant to the criminal justice system to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.
In this area of study students explore the criminal justice system, its range of personnel and institutions and the various means it uses to determine a criminal case.
Students investigate the rights of the accused and of victims, and explore the purposes and types of sanctions and sentencing considerations.
Students consider factors that affect the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice. They examine recent reforms from the past four years and recommended reforms to enhance the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice.
Students synthesise and apply legal principles and information relevant to the criminal justice system to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.
What Do I Need to Know for Outcome 1?
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain the rights of the accused and of victims in the criminal justice system, discuss the means used to determine criminal cases and evaluate the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 1.
Key knowledge
Key concepts
Key skills
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 1.
Key knowledge
Key concepts
- the principles of justice: fairness, equality and access
- key concepts in the Victorian criminal justice system, including: – the distinction between summary offences and indictable offences – the burden of proof – the standard of proof – the presumption of innocence
- the rights of an accused, including the right to be tried without unreasonable delay, the right to a fair hearing, and the right to trial by jury
- the rights of victims, including the right to give evidence as a vulnerable witness, the right to be informed about the proceedings, and the right to be informed of the likely release date of the accused Unit 3: Rights and justice VCE Legal Studies 2018–2022
- the role of institutions available to assist an accused, including Victoria Legal Aid and Victorian community legal centres
- the purposes of committal proceedings • the purposes and appropriateness of plea negotiations and sentence indications in determining criminal cases
- the reasons for a Victorian court hierarchy in determining criminal cases, including specialisation and appeals
- the responsibilities of key personnel in a criminal trial, including the judge, jury, parties and legal practitioners
- the purposes of sanctions: rehabilitation, punishment, deterrence, denunciation and protection
- fines, community corrections orders and imprisonment, and their specific purposes
- factors considered in sentencing, including aggravating factors, mitigating factors, guilty pleas and victim impact statements
- factors that affect the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice including in relation to costs, time and cultural differences
- recent reforms and recommended reforms to enhance the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice.
Key skills
- define and use legal terminology
- discuss, interpret and analyse legal principles and information
- explain the rights of an accused and of victims in the criminal justice system
- explain the purposes of committal proceedings and the roles of institutions available to assist an accused
- explain the reasons for the Victorian court hierarchy in determining criminal cases
- discuss and justify the appropriateness of the means used to determine a criminal case
- discuss the responsibilities of key personnel in a criminal trial
- discuss the ability of sanctions to achieve their purposes
- discuss recent reforms and recommended reforms to the criminal justice system
- evaluate the ability of the criminal justice system to achieve the principles of justice
- synthesise and apply legal principles and information to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.
Unit 3 AOS1 Revision
Unit 3 AOS1 Revision Booklet | |
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U3 AOS1 Sac Style Revision Questions.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
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practice_questions.pptx | |
File Size: | 62 kb |
File Type: | pptx |