Crime & Punishment

Crime & Punishment

What is a crime?Do you know anything about the criminal sphere (famous criminals or detectives\ judicial systems, etc.)?

VOCABULARY

criminal

• plead guilty/not guilty - to officially state that you are guilty/not guilty of a crime
• sentence somebody - to officially give a punishment to a person who is found guilty of a crime
• give testimony - to tell the court what you saw/know
• reach a verdict - to arrive at a decision about whether a person is guilty or not guilty of a crime
• acquit somebody - to officially decide that someone is not guilty of a crime
• convict somebody - to officially decide that someone is guilty of a crime

victim

detective\ police

jury and judge

suspect\ defendant

witness

defence attorney

prosecutor

arson bribery burglary drug dealing drug possession drunk driving fraud hacking kidnapping manslaughter murder pickpocketing robbery shoplifting terrorism

LIST the crimes

Petty crimes

Serious crimes

Which sentence is the harshest?

Penalties

• a 5-year prison sentence
• a caution
• a $500 fine
• community service
• life imprisonment
• the death penalty
• suspended sentence

Death penalty

YES or NO?

Should we charge with death sentences? What crimes are worth it?

What consequences and contradictions can it have?

What are the roots of crimes?

• What can be done to reduce the crime rates?

• What precautions can people take to avoid becoming a victim of crime?
• Should we fight the crime or prevent it? How can we do it?

Do you think anyone is capable of committing a crime?

What are some of the main causes of crime? What might convince someone to turn to crime?

Is it ever okay for a person to take justice into their own hands (e.g., lynch law)?

What other ethical dilemmas can you think of?

Should someone who committed a crime years ago be forgiven if they’ve changed?

What if a person is convicted of a crime they didn’t commit? How should the justice system handle mistakes?