court

• summary offences and either-way-offences are heard in magistrate's courts
• magistrates and legal advisers sit in a magistrate's court
• a magistrate decides guilt and sentencing
• a magistrate can sentence up to 12 months in prison, give an unlimited amount of fine and community service
• a summary offence is the least harmful offences
• examples of summary offences include common assault and battery
• an either-way-offence is an offence which can be heard in both crown courts and magistrate courts.
• Examples of either-way-offences include burglary and drug offences
• indictable and either-way-offences are heard in crown courts
• Examples of indictable offences include murder, manslaughter and rape
• A Jury and Judge sit in a Crown Court
• An appeal is first heard in a magistrate's court, crown court, court of appeal (criminal division) and then the Supreme court
• leapfrog is when an appeal is heard straight to the supreme court
• A Judge can give out life-long prison sentences and community services
• A court of first instance is where the case is first heard
• if you don't appear in court when granted a bail, you will go to jail
• You can stop your appeal from hearing in a crown court by giving a notice of abandonment of appeal
• You can appeal against your sentence if you plead guilty and the convicition of your sentence if you plead not guilty
• The final court of appeal is called the Supreme Court
• Indictable and either-way offences are heard in Crown Courts.
• Magistrates in the Magistrates' Court can order a defendant to perform community service as part of their sentence.
• Magistrates in the Magistrates' Court can impose an unlimited fine on a defendant.
• Magistrates in the Magistrates' Court can sentence a defendant to a maximum of 12 months in prison.
• The main trial courts used in criminal law are Magistrates' Court (lowest) and Crown Court (highest trial court and hears appeals from the Magistrates' Court).
• The main trial courts used by criminal law are Magistrates' Court (lowest) and Crown Court (highest trial court and hears appeals from the Magistrates' Court).
• The main trial court used in criminal law is the Magistrates' Court, where magistrates decide guilt and sentence.
• The maximum sentence that a magistrate can impose in the Magistrates' Court is 12 months in prison.
• The Crown Court is the highest trial court for criminal cases and hears appeals from the Magistrates' Court.
• A magistrate in the Magistrates' Court can also give an unlimited fine as part of the sentence.
• Community service can be ordered by a magistrate in the Magistrates' Court as a form of punishment.
• Crown Courts are a court of first instance as well as an Appeal Court meaning they can hear appeals from the magistrates Courts
• Crown Courts have a jury that decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty
• Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000
• Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 - Crown Court has unlimited sentencing powers
• More likely to be acquitted or the judge discharging the case due to lack of witnesses/evidence - advantage to crown court
• More likely to receive legal aid, therefore the state pays - advantage to crown court
• Experienced and certified advocate for D in Court - advantage to crown court
• If remanded in custody awaiting trial this will form part of a custodial sentence - advantage to crown court
• Around 15% of cases tried in the Magistrates Court where D Pleaded NOT guilty led to an acquittal.
• Costs are much greater in Crown Court (if D is not entitled to legal aid) - disadvantage to crown court