Jurisdiction of the Magistrates and Crown Courts

Magistrates’ Court Amount

160 courts across England and Wales

How many cases a year (M court)?

1.5 million

M Court Judge?

District judge or non-legally qualified lay magistrates

M Court Function?

To try all summary cases, appropriate triable either-way, any first hearing of indictable cases, prelim matters and 10-17 Youth Court D’s

Crown Court Jurisdiction

Try all indictable offenses, either way offences (D asked for it or M Court decided it was too serious) also hears appeals and pre-trial matters (D pleads guilty sit alone, or with Jury for a not guilty case).

Crown Court Amount

84 courts in England and Wales

Judges Role (C Court)

Controls the court, rules on relevant issues of law, directs jury on law and evidence and imposes a sentence if found guilty

CPS (Crown Prosecution Service)

Advises police on offences and evidence collection + D’s lawyer doesn’t have to disprove the case but cast reasonable doubt

Summary Offences (least serious)

Tried in M court, subdivided into levels of offences (1 - £200, 2 - £500, 3 - £1000, 4 - £2500, 5 – unlimited), driving while disqualified, common assault, drunk and disorderly in public, theft from a shop <£200

Triable Either Way Offences

M or C court, exact same as summary except if D pleads guilty then sentencing at C court like an indictable case – any sentence can be the max set out in the Act, crimes like assault causing ABH or theft of property worth over £200

Indictable Offences

C court trial only, Prelim in M court - IF D not guilty – jury will decide verdict but IF D guilty – judge will impose sentence. Judge can impose any up to the max legally set. Crimes like Murder, Manslaughter or robbery etc