You Be The Judge

...is a cracking new site from CJS Online. Students can hear the facts of a case, arguments relating to aggravating and mitigating factors, and choose a sentence from a range of options. They can then compare their decision to the “real” one in the case. More cases are to be added soon.

This is a great resource for teaching sentencing, criminal courts and magistrates. Also, the Times have an interesting article about public perceptions over sentencing here. It’s good on the fact that the public, when presented with the full facts of a case, tend to agree with sentencing decisions, or even tend towards the lenient side. A marked contrast with opinions based solely on media reports!

Sam Hallam is freed [17 May 2012]
New MoJ Site [24 Jan 2012]
Jury trial under threat…again! [17 Jan 2012]
R v Dobson & Norris [4 Jan 2012]
The Solar System of the Courts [29 Nov 2011]
Lay or DJ? [18 Nov 2011]
Sentencing Stats [28 Oct 2011]
Sentencing - LIVE! [5 Sep 2011]
Judges reading the Riot Act [19 Aug 2011]
A landmark case for the jury [20 Jul 2011]
Sentencing Reform Podcast [8 Jul 2011]
Poor set to suffer most from legal aid cuts [28 Jun 2011]
Government set to axe sentencing reforms? [8 Jun 2011]
Rehab, not revenge… [19 Apr 2011]
The true impact of the legal aid cuts [18 Mar 2011]
Criminal Courts - Free interactive resource [4 Feb 2011]
Deterrence [26 Jan 2011]
Free interactive resource! [25 Jan 2011]
Judge for Yourself [23 Jan 2011]
Breaking the Cycle of reoffending [20 Jan 2011]
Tweet Justice [21 Dec 2010]
Julian Assange granted bail [14 Dec 2010]
Sentencing Green Paper [8 Dec 2010]
Twitter Joke Trial [22 Nov 2010]
middle class, middle aged…. and sleepy? [3 Oct 2010]
Will the Supreme Court survive the cuts? [24 Sep 2010]
A “rehabilitation revolution” [26 Jul 2010]
The parole board [20 Jul 2010]
“Prison Works”... or does it? [30 Jun 2010]
Absolute scum! [18 May 2010]
Guardian Law [13 May 2010]
“I feel as if they have ripped out my heart” - victim’s justice? [17 Mar 2010]
The Angola 3 [10 Mar 2010]
Are juries fair? [21 Feb 2010]
Community Payback - Video clip and worksheet [15 Feb 2010]
Criminal Appeals: Attorney General’s References [26 Jan 2010]
Edlington, the age of criminal responsibility and youth sentencing [24 Jan 2010]
Mode of Trial proceedings [24 Dec 2009]
Great story for English Legal System revision generally… [7 Dec 2009]
New Youth Justice Site [4 Dec 2009]