Практический курс английского языка для слушателей факультета заочного обучения (стр. 18 )

2. The accident happened because of the man’s careless driving.

3. The police was instructed not to use unnecessary force.

4. The police believed there was a connection between these two crimes.

5. The officer refused to give any detailed information of the crime till the police arrived.

B. 1. The case was dismissed for the lack of evidence.

2. The witness testified that the signature on the will was genuine.

3. The appointments of the President must be approved by the Senate.

4. The judge decided that it was the case of diminished responsibility.

5. The two people involved in the accident were both announced dead.

Упражнение 34. Переведите предложения, учитывая особенности перевода предложений с безличным местоимением “it” в сочетании с глаголом в страдательном залоге (см. 2.37):

А. 1.It is known that lawyers, judges and police are a reliable instrument in fighting crimes.

2. It is supposed that all men and women are equal in the eyes of law.

3. It was said that the suspect was brought to the local police station.

4. It is believed that there is a reason for everything.

5. It was considered that the accident might have taken place due to bad weather.

B. 1. It is known that the object of criminal justice is the prevention and control of crime.

2. It is said that not all the evidence in their possession is of the same evidential value.

3. It was supposed that there should be some special instrument to open such locks.

4. It is considered that physical evidence may already be useful from its position or location at the crime scene.

5. It is believed that the most common way for arranging information is an alphabetical order.

Упражнение 35. Переведите предложения, обращая внимание на независимый причастный оборот (см. 2.43):

A. 1. The inspection being over, the operative team left the crime scene.

2. The offender was interrogated, his lawyer being present.

3. There being little evidence, the trial was postponed.

B. 1. The investigation of the crime being successful, the case was brought before the court.

2. The trial being over, the defendant was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

3. The district courts being the primary link of the judiciary, most of the criminal and civil cases are tried by these courts.

4. There are several kinds of punishment available to the courts, the most common punishment being a fine in civil cases.

5. Britain and the USA trying to solve the shortage of space for prisoners, private companies are allowed to build and own prisons.

РАЗДЕЛ III

ТЕКСТЫ ДЛЯ ПИСЬМЕННОГО ПЕРЕВОДА

Текст 1

WHAT IS A CRIME?

A crime is something a person does or fails to do in violation of a law (breaking a law) and for which he could be given one of five punishments:

1. Disqualification from office

2. Loss of office

3. Fine

4. Jail

5. Death

Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Otherwise, there would be no protection or safety for anyone, since every criminal could simply say he didn’t know what the law was and go free.

Crimes are usually divided in three types:

1. Crimes against a person – murder, rape, battery and many others

2. Crimes against property – burglary, arson, theft and malicious mischief

3. Crimes against the state (government)

Technically all crimes are against the state and individual. This is because the state laws are broken. There are many crimes, such as breaking traffic laws or failing to pay income tax, however, they are not really crimes against a person or against property.

A felony is a crime punishable by a year or more in prison. All other crimes are misdemeanors. Examples of felonies include murder, rape and burglary. Misdemeanor examples are petty theft, trespass and disturbing peace.

Текст 2

THE PROCEDURE OF MAKING A RECORD

During an inspection, and after it is over, the investigator draws up a record of inspection at the scene of the crime. Here he indicates who, where, when, in what connection and based on what norms of the criminal – procedural code the inspection was performed, and also who was present.

This evidence is entered in the introductory part of the record, while the second and most detailed part would list what and in what sequence was revealed at the scene of the crime.

Naturally, it would hardly be possible or desirable to record absolutely everything revealed at the scene of a crime.

In drawing up this section of the record, the investigator should note everything directly related to the crime and everything that appears to be singular.

After finishing the descriptive part of the record, he draws up the final section where he indicates the photographed, filmed or video – recorded objects; the items removed and where they were sent; the traces from which casts or copies were obtained.

Next he writes down any remarks he might have.

After this, the record is signed by all the participants of the inspection and the investigator himself.

Текст 3

BRITISH POLICE SYSTEM

There are about 60.000 police officers, men and women, in England, Wales and Scotland, excluding London. They all have the same rates of pay and the same conditions of service. All of them are subject to the same code of discipline.

Their duty is to enforce the law, to protect life and property of citizens and what is most important to prevent crime.

There are 155 different police forces in the country varying in size from 16 in Scotland to over 3.000 in Lancashire and 20.000 in the Metropolitan Police District. Each of these forces is a separate body, independent of the others and each operates only within its own area, under the command of its Chief Constable and is administered by its own local police authority.

Although the local police authority is responsible for the administration and maintenance of its force, the central government plays an important part.

It is the Home Secretary who is responsible to Parliament for the maintenance of law and order in the country as a whole.

Текст 4

BRITISH LEGAL SYSTEM

When someone is arrested for committing an offence, he is taken to the police station for interrogation. If the police decide there is a case against him, he is charged with the of­fence, that is to say the police formally accuse him of com­mitting it. After this, the accused appears before the magis­trate. This is a well-respected member of the public who is empowered to decide, with a lawyer's help, what to do about minor cases. If the magistrate finds the accused guilty, he will sentence him to pay a fine, or to some other minor punishment.

More serious cases are passed up to the Crown Court, where the accused is tried for the offence by a judge, and usually a jury. Very serious cases are heard in the high courts in London. Sometimes he can pay a bail, as a kind of a guarantee, and await the trial in freedom. In other cases he is put in custody by the magistrate and must wait in a cell, in a police station.

At the trial, the accused pleads guilty or not guilty. If he pleads not guilty, the jury, composed of twelve ordinary citizens, has to decide if he is guilty or not. This decision is called their verdict. The judge decides what punishment to give, if any. The lawyers who try to persuade the jury are called barristers. In court, the one on the side of the accused is known as the Counsel for the Defence, and the one against him is called the Counsel for the Prosecution. Each barrister calls witnesses to give evidence in support of his case.

When all the evidence has been heard, the judge sums up the case. The jury retire to another room, where they try to reach a verdict. If they find the accused guilty, we say he has been convicted of the offence. The judge then passes a sentence. He may sentence the guilty person to pay a fine, to a number of years of imprisonment, or to some other punishment. If the verdict is “not guilty”, we say the accused has been acquitted of the offence and he goes free.

Текст 5

INTERROGATION

Interrogation is a part of investigation, but it does not substitute the investigation. The object of the interro­gation is to discover the truth. Interrogation requires abi­lity and technique. A good interrogator should always be patient, tactful, but he should be firm.

The subject in an interrogation may be a victim, a complainant, a witness, a suspect or a criminal. Sometimes in order to conduct the interrogation the investigator must go out to a crime scene not one time because a witness or a sus­pect is nervous and does not tell the truth.

If the interrogation takes place in the investigator’s office, the subject should be seated so as to face a light. The investigator should seat with his back to the light source.

The attitude of the investigator toward the subject of the interrogation may be the key to the solution of the case.

The investigator must recognize that the subject may have information without which the case cannot be solved. But it may so happen that the subject does not want to talk. Therefore it is useful to remember some principles of inter­rogation:

Control your temper. Don't show anger, hesitation or other emotions.

Don't try to dominate. Most people do not like when they are being pushed.

Don't be in a hurry with the conclusions.

Текст 6

CRIME SCENE

What is a crime scene? A crime scene means a place or an area where the crime such as burglary, larceny, homicide, traffic accident or motor vehicle theft is committed. The scene of crime is the central location of all the evidence connected with the crime because evidence is always present at the scene of commission of any criminal offence. A criminal cannot commit a crime without leaving some traces.

Crime scene search is an action of the investigator consisting of his direct survey of the happening, finding, collecting and protecting evidence to establish circumstances which may be sig­nificant for the investigation. All the traces, fingerprints or instruments left by the criminal at the crime scene should be found and protected. It is one of the most important sources of information concerning commission of the crime which enables the officer to answer with specific details the questions: Where? When? Who? Why? and How? and to reconstruct the happening.