Criminal courts
Magistrates' courts
All criminal cases start in a magistrates바카라 사이트™ court.
Cases are heard by either:
- 2 or 3 magistrates
- a district judge
There is not a jury in a magistrates바카라 사이트™ court.
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Cases a magistrates바카라 사이트™ court deals with
A magistrates바카라 사이트™ court normally handles cases known as 바카라 사이트˜summary offences바카라 사이트™, for example:
- most motoring offences
- minor criminal damage
- common assault (not causing significant injury)
It can also deal with some of the more serious offences, such as:
- burglary
- drugs offences
These are called 바카라 사이트˜either way바카라 사이트™ offences and can be heard either in a magistrates바카라 사이트™ court or a Crown Court.
Cases that magistrates pass to the Crown Court
Magistrates바카라 사이트™ courts always pass the most serious crimes to the Crown Court, for example:
- murder
- rape
- robbery
These are known as 바카라 사이트˜indictable offences바카라 사이트™.
Being kept in custody or granted bail
In some cases the magistrates바카라 사이트™ court will decide if you should be kept in custody until your next court hearing, or released on bail.
This may happen if:
- another court hearing is needed
- the court needs more information before passing sentence
- your case is passed to the Crown Court for trial or sentencing
If you바카라 사이트™re released on bail, you might have to follow strict conditions such as keeping away from certain people or places, staying indoors or wearing a tag.
If you do not attend court after being granted bail, you can be put in prison.
Sentences a magistrates바카라 사이트™ court can give
The court can give punishments including:
- up to 6 months in prison (or up to 12 months in total for more than one offence)
- a fine
- a community sentence, like doing unpaid work in the community
- a ban, for example from driving or keeping an animal
Courts can also give a combination of punishments - for example a fine and unpaid work in the community.
If the court decides your sentence should be for longer than 6 months, it can pass your case to the Crown Court for sentencing.
Appealing your sentence or conviction
You may be able to appeal the magistrates바카라 사이트™ court verdict if you disagree with it.