a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved, and where justice is administered according to the law

a judicial officer who hears cases in a lower court, typically dealing with more minor offences

a person who has violated a law, regulation, or rule and is subject to legal or disciplinary punishment

How does the youth justice system work?

Citizenship

How are laws made?

Who enforces the law?

What is the difference between criminal and civil law?

What is sentencing?

How does the law apply to young people?

Pupils learn how laws are made and enforced and about the purpose and types of punishment.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the legal system?

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved

a person who has violated a law, regulation, or rule

Match the word to its correct definition. 

Who am I describing? A judicial officer who hears cases in a lower court, typically dealing with more minor offences.

youth courts only deal with 10-13-year-olds and never send cases to crown court

youth courts handle 10-17-year-olds and use the same procedures as adult courts

youth courts deal with minor offences and never refer cases to higher courts

youth courts handle 10-17-year-olds and can send cases to the crown court

Which statement accurately describes youth courts?

To safeguard the welfare of the child and prevent re-offending.

To protect the public by locking up young offenders.

Youth court proceedings are formal and use legal jargon.

Guardian accompanies the child, and magistrates engage directly with them.

Youth court participants sit at different levels.

 Youth courts have no reporting restrictions for children.

Which of the following is a key difference between adult and youth courts?

Scotland and Wales share the same criminal justice system.

England and Wales have a separate criminal justice system from Scotland.

The entire UK operates under one unified criminal justice system.

Youth justice laws are the same across all parts of the UK.

Which of the following statements is correct regarding the criminal justice system in the UK?

Who brings the case in a criminal law court?

law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups

law that deals with individuals who break the law and seeks to punish 

an act or behaviour that violates a law and is punishable by the law

Which courts can be used for both criminal and civil cases?

Criminal law and civil law are always handled in the same courts.

Civil law cases are only handled in criminal courts.

Criminal law cases can be heard in civil courts.

Criminal and civil cases are usually heard in different courts. 

Which of the following is true regarding criminal and civil law?

In a civil law case, the person who brings the case is called the ...

In both criminal and civil law, the person charged with an offence is called the ...

How does the youth justice system work?

Lesson outcome

Content guidance