Starter quiz
- Match the words with their correct definitions.
- rights⇔things we are entitled to by law ✓
- court⇔a formal place where legal cases are heard and justice is applied ✓
- magistrate⇔a person who hears less serious cases in local courts ✓
- Fill in the gap: A ______ is a legal decision made after a person has been found guilty of a crime, and it determines their punishment.
- 'sentence' ✓
- Which of the following is a key difference between youth courts and adult courts?
- Youth courts have the same procedures as adult courts.
- Youth courts focus more on rehabilitation and wellbeing. ✓
- Youth courts only handle criminal cases.
- Youth courts do not have magistrates.
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- Which of these is a right that young people have when arrested?
- the right to choose their own punishment
- the right to have an appropriate adult with them ✓
- the right to remain silent only if guilty
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- What ages of people do youth courts deal with?
- 10 - 17-year-olds ✓
- anyone under 18
- 10 - 25-year-olds
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- If a case involving a young person is very serious, it is dealt with by a ...
- youth court
- magistrates court
- crown court ✓
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Exit quiz
- Complete this sentence: In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the age of criminal responsibility is ...
- 'ten' ✓
- Match the word to the correct definition.
- law⇔rules, usually made by Parliament ✓
- crime⇔an illegal act that is punishable by law ✓
- age of criminal responsibility⇔the minimum age a person can be held legally responsible for a crime ✓
- Why does our understanding of right and wrong evolve as we age?
- because we learn to follow more rules
- because we start considering the impact of our actions ✓
- because we stop making mistakes
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- What was removed in 1998 for those aged 10–14 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?
- the ability to be tried for crimes
- protections against being held responsible for crimes ✓
- the legal right to representation
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- What happens if children under the age of 10 break the law in England, Wales or Northern Ireland?
- they face no consequences at all
- they are sent to court like adults
- they may face other forms of intervention ✓
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- Put the countries in order of which has the lowest age of criminal responsibility.
- 1⇔Grenada
- 2⇔England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- 3⇔Scotland
- 4⇔Spain
- 5⇔Norway
- 6⇔Cuba
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- As we age, our understanding of right and wrong evolves from following rules to considering the impact of our actions.
- Everyone must follow the law, but in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the age of criminal responsibility is 10.
- It has been 10 since 1963, with changes in 1998 which removed protections for those aged 10-14.
- The age of criminal responsibility is different around the world, for example, in Cuba it is 16 and in Grenada it is 7.
Common misconception
Children under the age of 10 have no consequences for their actions.
Whilst the age of criminal responsbility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 10, this does not mean children under this age will face no conseqences if they break the law. They may still face other forms of intervention.
Keywords
Right and wrong - actions or behaviours that are considered morally acceptable or unacceptable based on societal values or personal beliefs
Law - rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves
Crime - an illegal act that is punishable by law
Age of criminal responsibility - the minimum age at which a person can be legally considered responsible for a crime
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