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

ordinary people who hear less serious cases, or preliminary hearings from more serious cases in local courts; they work in criminal, family and youth courts to ensure justice is served

the punishment that a judge or magistrate decides someone should be given after they have been convicted of a crime

How is the criminal justice system applied to young people?

Citizenship

What are laws?

How are laws made? Criminal vs civil law

Can citizens change laws?

What is the age of criminal responsibility?

Deliberative discussion: Should the age of criminal responsibility be changed?

In this unit, pupils explore what the law is and how criminal and civil laws are made. They examine what role citizens can have in changing the law and consider how the justice system should apply to young people.

What is the law and how is it changed?

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

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

handles the most serious cases, including those involving young people

a person who is with a young person during police questioning

where cases involving young offenders are heard

Match the words with the correct definitions.

Who is this describing? Ordinary people who hear less serious cases in local courts; they work in criminal, family and youth courts to ensure justice is served.

the system focuses on helping them change their behaviour.

 they have no rights in the court system.

Which statement is accurate? Young people are treated differently in the justice system because ... 

the young person’s previous criminal record

Which of the following is **not** a factor that youth courts consider when deciding on a sentence?

If a young person has been accused of murder who would hear the case?

the right to remain silent during questioning

the right to have a parent or carer informed of their arrest

Which right does a young person have when arrested that is different from an adult?

rules made by Parliament to guide how society should behave

a person who helps create and decide on new laws, such as an MP

makes laws, consists of the House of Commons, House of Lords, monarch

Match the word to its correct definition. 

Which of the following is a way citizens can influence lawmakers?

it must receive at least 50% support from MPs

it must be approved by a committee of lawyers

What must happen for a bill to become an Act of Parliament?

PC Wardell, through the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2018

Which of the following is an example of a citizen helping to change the law?

Complete this sentence: The final stage a bill must go through before becoming an Act of Parliament is ... 

a proposed law that MPs and Peers must debate and vote on

a law only discussed in the House of Lords

a document that citizens use to vote on laws

What is a bill in the UK lawmaking process?

How is the criminal justice system applied to young people?

Lesson outcome

Content guidance