The Crown Court PDF Print E-mail

Temporary ImageThe Crown Court deals with the most serious criminal cases:

  • indictable-only offences, that cannot be tried in the magistrates' court, such as murder or rape, and
  • those that are 'triable either way' - in the Crown Court or the magistrates' court - such as theft or criminal damage.

Either-way offences

If you are charged with an either-way offence:
  • you have the right to be tried in the Crown Court, by a judge and jury.
  • you may be sent to the Crown Court whether you like it or not, if the magistrates' court decides the case is serious enough.
  • otherwise you will be tried in the magistrates' court, but if you are found guilty the magistrates' court may send you to the Crown Court for sentence, if it considers you deserve a more serious penalty than the magistrates' court can impose.

Indictable-only offences

If you are charged with an indictable-only offence, your case will start in the magistrates' court, which may deal with preliminary questions such as bail, but you will eventually be tried in the Crown Court by a judge and jury.

Appeals

The Crown Court also hears appeals against the decisions of magistrates' courts.
 

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