magistrates' court

• What is the lowest court in the court hierarchy?

  Magistrates court
• What type of hearings start in the magistrates court?

  Early administrative or plea + case management hearings
• What types of crimes does the magistrates court deal with?

  Less serious crimes
• What is the maximum custodial sentence magistrates can grant?

  1. year custodial sentence
• What is the maximum fine magistrates can impose?

  £5000 fines
• Who hears cases in the magistrates court?

  3 magistrates or a district judge
• What type of crimes does the crown court deal with?

  More serious crimes
• Who hears cases in the crown court?

  A judge in the presence of a jury
• What can the crown court do regarding appeals?

  Listen to appeals from the magistrates’ court
• What are the classifications of offences in the court system?

  • Summary
  • Triable either way
  • Indictable
• What are summary offences?

  The least serious crimes
• Where are summary offences always heard?

  In the magistrates’ court
• What is the process for summary offences?

  1. Early administrative hearing at magistrates’ court
  2. Determine bail or remand status
  3. Legal funding provisions
  4. Pre-sentence reports
  5. Plead guilty = sentencing at magistrates’ court
  6. Plead not guilty = summary trial at magistrates’ court
• What happens if a defendant pleads guilty in a summary offence?

  Sentencing occurs at magistrates’ court
• What happens if a defendant pleads not guilty in a summary offence?

  A summary trial occurs at magistrates’ court
• What are triable either way offences?

  Middle-level crimes heard in either court
• What determines where triable either way offences are heard?

  The defendant's choice
• What is the process for triable either way offences?

  1. Plea and case management hearing at magistrates’ court
  2. Defendant enters plea
  3. Plead guilty = summary trial at magistrates’ court
  4. Plead not guilty = choice of court unless too serious
• What happens if a defendant pleads guilty in a triable either way offence?

  Sentencing occurs at magistrates’ court
• What happens if a defendant pleads not guilty in a triable either way offence?

  Defendant can choose court unless too serious
• What are indictable offences?

  The most serious crimes
• Where are indictable offences always heard?

  In a crown court
• What is the process for indictable offences?

  1. Early administrative hearing at magistrates’ court
  2. Case sent to crown court via committal proceedings
  3. Plead guilty = sentencing at crown court
  4. Plead not guilty = jury trial at crown court
• What does the Crime + Disorder Act 1998 stipulate for indictable offences?

  Magistrates must send the case to crown court
• What happens if a defendant pleads guilty in an indictable offence?

  Sentencing occurs at crown court
• What happens if a defendant pleads not guilty in an indictable offence?

  A jury trial occurs at crown court