Crown Court
Cases a Crown Court deals with:
A Crown Court normally handles cases known as ‘simple offences’, such as:
most motoring offenses
minor criminal damage
being drunk and disorderly
It can also deal with some of the more serious offences, depending on the severity, such as:
burglary
drugs offences
Cases that Crown Court pass to the High Court
Crown Courts always pass the most serious crimes, known as High Crimes, to the High Court, such
as:
murder
rape
robbery
Being kept in custody or granted bail
In some cases, the magistrates court decides if you should be:
kept in custody in a police or court cell
granted "bail", and let out on strict conditions, e.g. to keep away from named places or people
This may happen if:
another court hearing is needed
the court needs more information before passing sentence
Sentences a Crown 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 of up to five-thousand pounds (not including fees and late fines)
a community sentence, like doing unpaid work in the community
Courts can also give a combination of punishments, such as a fine and unpaid work in the community. If the court decides a sentence should be for longer than 6 months, it can pass it to High Court for sentencing.
Appealing a sentence or conviction
If someone disagrees with the Crown Court’s verdict, they may be able to appeal.
A Crown Court normally handles cases known as ‘simple offences’, such as:
most motoring offenses
minor criminal damage
being drunk and disorderly
It can also deal with some of the more serious offences, depending on the severity, such as:
burglary
drugs offences
Cases that Crown Court pass to the High Court
Crown Courts always pass the most serious crimes, known as High Crimes, to the High Court, such
as:
murder
rape
robbery
Being kept in custody or granted bail
In some cases, the magistrates court decides if you should be:
kept in custody in a police or court cell
granted "bail", and let out on strict conditions, e.g. to keep away from named places or people
This may happen if:
another court hearing is needed
the court needs more information before passing sentence
Sentences a Crown 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 of up to five-thousand pounds (not including fees and late fines)
a community sentence, like doing unpaid work in the community
Courts can also give a combination of punishments, such as a fine and unpaid work in the community. If the court decides a sentence should be for longer than 6 months, it can pass it to High Court for sentencing.
Appealing a sentence or conviction
If someone disagrees with the Crown Court’s verdict, they may be able to appeal.