criminal courts

• there are two main criminal courts : the magistrates‘ court and the crown court
• jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ court

  • tries all summary offences
  • Play before venue and mould of trial hearings in either way offensive, and trial of such offences where they have the sentencing power under the defendant chooses the magistrates‘ court
  • jurisdiction set out in Magistrates‘ Court Act 1980
• jurisdiction of Magistrate’ court

  • issue search and arrest warrants to police
  • grants bail to defendants
  • hears cases in relation to 10-17year olds in the Youth Court
  • maximum sentence: six months or 12 months where D is charged with two either-way offences
  • no longer any maximum limit for fines in the Magistrates' court for specified offences
• jurisdiction of the Crown court

  • tries either way where the magistrates do not have sufficient sentencing powers to deal with the case or where the defendant chooses crown court trial
  • hears plea and preparation for trial hearings, trials of indictable cases and bail applications
  • hears appeal from the magistrates‘ court against conviction or sentence