Law and Order
Have you ever wondered what age a child can be charged with a crime, or what your rights would be if you were questioned by the police? This BYTES elective will allow you to explore your rights and responsibilities with the law. You will gain an understanding of why we need laws in our society and what happens if a law is broken. The two types of law, criminal and civil law, will be investigated. There will be a major emphasis on the different types of crimes, such as a minor traffic offence or something as serious as murder. You will develop an understanding of how the different types of courts and the jury system work and some possible punishments.
Topics to cover:
- Why do we need laws? How are laws relevant to us? Legal and non-legal rules
- Major differences between criminal and civil law
- Age of criminal responsibility/ Young people’s rights (legal aid booklets)
- The roles of police. Young people’s rights when dealing with the police.
- Different types of crime
- The courts (Magistrate’s, Supreme)
- Types of sanctions/punishments eg. fine, community-based order, imprisonment
- Assessment: choice assignment (from list of legal topics and presentation options)
