New
New
Year 10

What rights do defendants and victims of crime have?

I can describe the rights of defendants and victims of crime and explain why these are important.

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New
New
Year 10

What rights do defendants and victims of crime have?

I can describe the rights of defendants and victims of crime and explain why these are important.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Defendants have the right to a fair trial, legal representation, and presumption of innocence.
  2. Defendants can remain silent, challenge evidence, and appeal convictions to ensure justice.
  3. Legal rights protect individuals from wrongful punishment and ensure fair trials.
  4. Victims are entitled to respect, case updates, and support during the legal process.
  5. Victims can give statements and apply for compensation, ensuring they are heard and involved.

Keywords

  • Legal rights - protections and freedoms given by law to individuals, ensuring fair treatment and justice within the legal system

  • Defendant - a person that is accused of committing a crime or being accused of a civil wrong

  • Justice - fairness as a result of the application of a law, usually by a judge, in society

Common misconception

Pupils may think that rights solely lie with the victim of crime, as they are the ones who have been wronged in some way.

Our legal system is based on justice, a key aspect of this is to ensure rights for both defendants and victims of crime; this ensures a fair trial and allows justice to be served.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What rights do defendants and victims of crime have?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The case studies briefly explored in the lesson are readily available online and could be examined in more detail with students highlighting the range of rights being denied, potential impact on the justice system and recommendations for the prevention of this happening again in the future.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why is common law important?
It prevents new laws from being passed by Parliament.
Correct answer: It allows judges to adapt the law to new issues quickly.
It delays changes in law until Parliament act.
Q2.
What might happen if civil law did not exist?
Correct answer: People could struggle to protect their rights.
Criminals would not be punished for crimes.
Judges could create more precedents.
Q3.
What is the role of the legislature in the law making process?
to challenge existing court decisions
Correct answer: to create laws through Parliament
to prosecute offenders who break the law
Q4.
ensure justice, fairness, safety, and clarity, protecting rights and providing rules for society.
Correct Answer: laws
Q5.
Match the word to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:legislation,a law or a set of laws that have been passed by Parliament

a law or a set of laws that have been passed by Parliament

Correct Answer:common law,law made by the decisions of judges over the years

law made by the decisions of judges over the years

Correct Answer:precedent,a legal decision made by a judge that must be followed

a legal decision made by a judge that must be followed

Q6.
law keeps society safe, ensures justice, and deters crime by setting clear rules and consequences.
Correct answer: criminal
property
corporate

6 Questions

Q1.
Our system is based on justice, ensuring rights for both defendants and victims of crime.
Correct Answer: legal
Q2.
Why is justice important in our legal system?
Correct answer: It ensures fairness for defendants and victims.
It allows one side to receive preferential treatment.
It eliminates the need for evidence in trials.
Q3.
Which of the following is a right of a defendant in a legal trial?
Correct answer: to remain silent and challenge evidence
to decide the verdict of their case
to choose the judge for their trial
Q4.
Match the word to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:legal rights,protections and freedoms given by law to individuals

protections and freedoms given by law to individuals

Correct Answer:justice,fairness as a result of the application of a law in society

fairness as a result of the application of a law in society

Correct Answer:legislature,the lawmaking body of the state, i.e. Parliament in the UK

the lawmaking body of the state, i.e. Parliament in the UK

Q5.
Which is not a way in which victims can be involved in the legal process?
by giving statements
by acting as the judge
Correct answer: by applying for compensation
Q6.
Match the participants to their descriptions.
Correct Answer:defendants,accused of committing a crime or civil wrong

accused of committing a crime or civil wrong

Correct Answer:victims,entitled to respect, updates, and support during the legal process

entitled to respect, updates, and support during the legal process

Correct Answer:judges,ensure fairness and apply the law in court

ensure fairness and apply the law in court