Does the criminal justice system serve everyone fairly? (Unit of work)

Does the criminal justice system serve everyone fairly?

About this unit

This unit of work develops students’ knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system and asks them to consider whether it treats everyone fairly.

Students begin by exploring the different roles within the criminal justice system and how they work together, asking whether there is diversity within these roles. They distinguish between criminal and civil law and analyse the principles guiding their operation, evaluating the complexities of justice with a focus on fairness. They explore the pivotal role of juries and jury independence and the potential for bias and errors, assessing their implications for a fair trial. They consider the barriers to creating an accessible and inclusive legal system for all. They learn about miscarriages of justice and use the case study of Stephen Lawrence to investigate challenging injustice and advocating for change. They finish by planning and presenting a campaign to advocate for change in the legal system, before returning to the enquiry question and debating whether the criminal justice system serves everyone fairly.

This unit of work forms part of our model core curriculum which is exclusively available to School and College Members.

National curriculum links
The nature of rules and laws and the justice system, including the role of the police and the operation of courts and tribunals
Through this sequence, students explore the concept of equality before the law, the diversity of those who work within the legal system and the extent to which the justice system treats everyone fairly.

Citizenship skills
Political literacy, collaborative working, investigation, tolerance, investigation, analysis, decision-making, debate, raising awareness, advocacy, active participation

Citizenship concepts
Justice, equal opportunities, fairness, identity, rights, democracy, ethics, discrimination, diversity, race, ethnicity, disability, change, gender, responsibilities

Building progression
This scheme of work is part of ACT’s model core curriculum for Citizenship in secondary schools, which has been designed to develop and deepen students’ knowledge, skills and understanding throughout Key Stages 3 and 4. Other units linked to this Year 8 unit include:

Year 7: How do laws affect us?

Year 9: How well is justice served through the criminal justice system? (Coming soon)

Year 10: What tools can we use to challenge injustice in our communities?

Year 11: Does our legal system protect citizens’ rights?

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