UNIT 4: CRIMINAL LAW

COLLOCATION:
An offender: commits a crime
A victim: brings a suit
A lawyer: resolves a dispute, brings a suit, (commit a crime)
The court: resolves a dispute, renders a verdict, sentences an offender, suspends a
sentences
A judge: resolves a dispute, renders a verdict, sentences an offender, suspends a
sentences.

Listening
What is white-collar crime?
White-collar crime is generally non-violent and includes public corruption, health
care fraud, mortgage fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering.
What is a corporation?
A large company or group of companies that are controlled together as a single
organization.
Is street crime more serious than the white-collar crime?
White-collar crime has the potential to be considerably more serve than street
crime. Even though street crime is far more violent than white-collar crime, white-
collar crime has a more significant economic impact.
Reading
Definition:
A crime is an omission or commission of acts. It must be a violation of public law.
Features: Dangerous, punishable
1. The difference between the standard of proof in criminal cases and that in civil
cases?
The standard of proof in criminal cases is higher than that in civil cases. On the one
hand, two parties in civil cases will compete to provide more evidence, and the
party who gives evidence stronger than the other party is likely to win in this case.
This case is called the balance of probabilities or preponderance of the evidence.
On the other hand, in criminal cases, the prosecutor has to prove the defendant
beyond a reasonable doubt. There is a likelihood for the defendant to commit the
sentences.
2. How can you identify less serious crimes, serious crimes, very serious crimes,
and extremely serious crimes?
It depends on the punishment range.
3. Name the four most common categories of a criminal offense:
Offenses against the person, offenses against property, public-order crimes, and
business (or corporate) crimes.
SPEAKING:
1. The main difference between a crime and a tort
2. Should dealth penalty be abolished
Should not Should
 Most cruel, inhuman, and regarding
punishment (hanging, shooting, lethal
injection, beheading, electric shock)
 Breach human rights (right to life and right
to live free from torture or cruel treatment,
protected by international law)
 Juvenile execution
 Inflict emotional distress (years on death
row, not knowing when their time is up, or
whether they will see their familes one last
time)
 Irrevocable (the risk of executing an
innocent person can never be eliminated –
we can’t give back a life once it taken-
people with mental and intellectual
disabilities, unfair trials)
 Lack of deterrent effect (deprive people of
the opportunity to reform)
3. Why is white-collar crime dangerous for whole society?
https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/white-collar-crime-what-is-how-affect-
society
 We need to be tough on crime
(executions will stop murder)
 Deterrent effect ( the threat of death
forces people to reform)
 The legal system is fair
 It is cheaper and more humane to
execute people
 Retribution; harsh penalty is needed for
criminals of the worst crimes
(terrorism, drug-related offences,
attempted murder,etc)
 Rise of alarming and heart-wrenching
crimes
 Discourage taking of innocent lives
(they say that impossing the death
penalty puts innocent lives at risk but
removing it puts more innocent lives at
risk especially if we let the heartless
criminals live and kill more ppl.