Myths in law

Have you ever wondered how much truth there was reflected in your favourite court room drama? How accurate is your favourite crime series in depicting the way the criminal justice system works? If you have, then this free course is for you. You will be looking at some of the biggest myths around criminal law and criminal courts to see how accurate a picture they are painting. You will see whether it is true that all criminal cases are tried by jury and whether convicted criminals are really let off without prison sentences. Just don’t expect any gavels! This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course W111 Criminal law and the courts.

• 1 ‘Criminal cases are tried by jury’
• 1.1 Truth?
• 1.2 Myth?
• 1.2.1 The magistrates’ court
• 1.2.2 Guilty pleas
• 1.3 Mixture?
• 2 ‘Most judges are old, white men’
• 2.1 Truth?
• 2.1.1 Magistrates
• 2.2 Myth?
• 2.2.1 Magistrates
• 2.3 Mixture?
• 2.3.1 Increasing diversity
• 3 ‘The police enforce the law’
• 3.1 Truth?
• 3.2 Myth?
• 3.2.1 Other agencies
• 3.2.2 Crown Prosecution Service
• 3.3 Mixture?
• 4 ‘Crimes are immoral’
• 4.1 Truth?
• 4.2 Myth?
• 4.2.1 Regulatory offences
• 4.2.2 Reasons for criminalising activity
• 4.2.3 Immoral but not illegal
• 4.3 Mixture?
• 5 ‘All crimes have victims’
• 5.1 Truth?
• 5.2 Myth?
• 5.3 Mixture?
• 6 ‘Convicted criminals are let off without prison sentences’
• 6.1 Truth?
• 6.2 Myth?
• 6.2.1 Sentences
• 6.2.2 Purposes of punishment
• 6.3 Mixture?
• 6.3.1 You be the judge
• 7 ‘Criminal law and civil law are completely different’
• 7.1 Truth?
• 7.1.1 Different courts
• 7.1.2 Different decision-makers
• 7.1.3 Different parties
• 7.1.4 Different levels of proof
• 7.2 Myth?
• 7.2.1 A case for the courts
• 7.2.2 In the criminal court
• 7.2.3 In the civil court
• 7.3 Mixture?