Student Case Studies

Chapter 1: England

Joe Pattinson is a 25-year-old English student at Oxford University in Great Britain. One Saturday night, after an evening out with friends, he went home with his girlfriend. Joe and his girlfriend proceeded to get into a fight about his inability to pick up after himself around the house. Joe proceeded to push his girlfriend down and violently beat her. He left the apartment while she was still on the floor unconscious.

Joe returned the next morning to find his girlfriend dead from her injuries. He attempted to hide the body in the apartment. However, the police showed up later that day because her friends knew the couple had been fighting, and they had not been able to reach her. The police found the body and arrested Joe.

The evidence against Joe was quite overwhelming. His girlfriend had clearly died from blood loss and brain swelling due to the beating he had given her. Friends were also able to give statements as to the fact that they had been arguing that evening. Joe is now in custody and preparing for trial in England.


What court in England would hear this case and why?

Answer: Crown Courts handle all major criminal cases in England.

Chapter 2: France

Scott is a 12-year-old French boy with a very difficult family situation. Scott is from a very impoverished neighborhood in France and has no parental supervision. His father is absent from his life, and his mother is quite abusive when she is around. More often than not, however, she is away working one of her two jobs to try to provide for the family. Scott has been involved in illegal activities since he was nine years old and does not show any sign of stopping.  At age 12, Scott committed burglary and vandalism at a grocery store in France. At age 16, Scott began to commit more serious offenses around his neighborhood. Eventually he was arrested for a particularly violent assault that almost led to the death of the victim.


In France, what options might have been provided to Scott by the government for his crimes when he was 12? Would he be held accountable for his crimes by a juvenile court?

Answer: Scott may have been able to access one of the banlieues that provides social services to juveniles in at-risk areas. At age 12, however, Scott could not have been held legally responsible by a French court. Offenders under age 13 are protected from any type of criminal proceeding.

Chapter 3: Japan

Yasuo is a 25-year-old male Japanese citizen who was arrested for robbery. A woman was walking down the street using her smart phone. Yasuo robbed her at gunpoint.


If Yasuo lived in an urban area, what type of “police box” officer may be responsible for assisting in the response to this incident? If Yasuo lived in a rural area, what type of officer may assist?

Answer: The prefectural police would address the situation. If Yasuo lived in an urban area, an officer from a koban may assist. If Yasuo lived in a rural area, an officer from a chuzaisho may assist.

Chapter 4: South Africa

Mandiba was arrested on suspicion of homicide late one evening. Police officers spent hours questioning Mandiba despite his exhaustion and the late hour. He was not provided with food, restroom breaks, or the opportunity to sleep for more than 72 hours. On the last day of questioning, the officers told him that if he signed the written confession they had typed up, he would be allowed to sleep, have a hot meal, and use the restroom and shower. Mandiba said he would do so and signed the confession. During Mandiba’s trial, the signed confession was a significant piece of evidence that was used against him. He was ultimately convicted and sentenced to death.


What are the two constitutional issues in this case?

Answer: Is the death penalty constitutional in South Africa? Are confessions under duress accepted in South Africa?

Chapter 5: Russia

Alexi and Demitri are neighbors, both living on large acreages of land in the Russian countryside. One day, while Demitri was digging holes for fence posts on the western edge of his property, he found a large buried chest that he removed from the ground to find money and jewels. He went to tell his neighbor Alexi and proceeded to show Alexi where he found the treasure. Alexi claimed that Demitri was actually digging over the property line, and the chest he found was actually on Alexi’s land, and thus the chest belonged to Alexi. The two men argued back and forth over the ownership of the property and the property line, and thus the resulting ownership of the buried treasure. Alexi eventually became so angry that he killed Demitri.


In what court in Russia would the property dispute case have been heard (prior to the homicide)?

Answer: Justice of the Peace Court.

Chapter 6: China

Jong is a 20-year-old male who has been arrested for violently assaulting another Chinese man during a large holiday parade in China. Jong is a middle-class man who had recently been fired from his job. The day he was fired was the same day he proceeded to get drunk and go the holiday parade. It was at the holiday parade that another man bumped into him and Jong proceeding to beat him quite badly.


In what type of facility would Jong be housed while awaiting his sentence in China?

Answer: Criminal Detention Center.

Chapter 7: Islamic Law

Abboud is a Sunni Muslim who has committed theft in a local electronics shop. Abboud was apprehended shortly after his theft and was found with the stolen electronics in his possession. Abboud admitted to committing theft and attempting to sell the electronics he had stolen so he could buy some more expensive electronics for himself.


In what religious text or category would you find reference to this particular crime in Islamic Law?

Answer: This is a hudud crime that would be found in either the Sunna or the Quran.