This unit is designed for police officers intending on practice as a police prosecutor. It commences with an examination of the fundamental principles of criminal responsibility, including inchoate offences, parties to crimes, common purpose and legal presumptions. It then looks at the elements of some of the more common crimes and offences prosecuted before the magistrates court, including burglary and stealing, assault, property and public order, family violence, summary drug, traffic and road safety. Where appropriate, common defences to these charges are considered. The unit then commences an examination of the key rules, processes and principles of evidence law. Students will consider the formal rules relating to adducing evidence, including witness competence, compellability and unavailability. The main rules governing the admissibility of evidence will be covered in the following weeks, including relevance, hearsay and its major exceptions in criminal proceedings, admissions, opinion, credibility and character evidence, tendency and coincidence and identification. The unit finishes with a brief examination of the law of sentencing, including a prosecutor’s role in the sentencing process.