jurisdiction of criminal courts

• two types of courts

  1. magistrates court - summary and triable either way offences
  2. crown courts - triable either way and indictable offences
• 240 magistrates courts across England and Wales and 90 different Crown Courts

  famous one being the old bailey
• magistrates court: summary and triable either way

  • try all summary offences and some triable either way offences where magistrates accept jurisdiction and where D agreed for the trial to be heard at magistrates court
  • sentencing limit of £5000 or 6 months imprisonment
• magistrates court: pre-trial procedures

  • magistrates deals with all pre-trial matters in a criminal offence
  • for example, early administrative hearings - includes applications for bail and if legal aid is required
  • aim for summary cases to complete the earliest possible hearing
  • plea before venue - hearing for triable either way offences to decide where the case will be tried
• crown court: indictable offences

  • hears all indictable offences and some triable either way offences - sent from magistrates
  • also hears appeals fro magistrates
  • trials heard by a judge and a 12 - person jury
  • judge decides on the point of law and the jury will apply the law to the facts of the case to reach guilt/ not guilty verdict