Become AuggieStudy / Part 3: Government and the law in Australia
Courts, juries and police
- Courts and judges are independent
- Innocent until proven guilty, and everyone may have a lawyer
- A jury is ordinary citizens chosen at random
- In a criminal trial, the judge sets the penalty
- Police are independent of government
- The AFP handles federal crimes and ACT policing
- Offering police a bribe is a crime
| Who | Role |
|---|---|
| Police | Keep order, arrest suspects, give evidence |
| Jury | Ordinary citizens chosen at random; decide guilty or not guilty |
| Judge or magistrate | Highest authority in court; explains the law and sets the penalty |
| State/NT police | Crimes under state and territory laws |
| Australian Federal Police | Federal crimes, plus general policing in the ACT |
- Enforcing the law
- PoliceIndependent; arrest and bring people to court
- State and NT police
- Australian Federal Police
- CourtsIndependent; decide on the evidence
- JuryDecides guilt
- Judge or magistrateSets the penalty
Key facts
- Courts and judges are independent.
- Innocent until proven guilty; everyone may have a lawyer.
- Jury: ordinary citizens chosen at random.
- In a criminal trial, the judge decides the penalty.
- Police are independent of government.
- AFP: federal crimes plus general policing in the ACT.
- Even offering a bribe to police is a crime.