Essential Magistrates' Courts Law.

Cover -- Copyright and publication details -- Table of Contents -- About the authors -- Acknowledgements -- Preface -- Introduction -- A Brief Overview -- History of Justices of the Peace in England and Wales -- Applications -- Search warrants -- Warrants for arrest -- Mental Health Act -- Witness summonses and warrants -- Issue of summons to institute proceedings -- Utility warrants -- Noise nuisance -- Statutory declaration -- Extension of police bail -- Applications relating to hearsay and bad character -- Criminal behaviour orders -- Closure orders -- Domestic violence protection orders -- The First Appearance -- Open justice -- The information or written charge -- Paperwork -- Absence of defendant -- Presence through lawyer -- Defendant present -- Either-way offences -- Summary offences -- No indication -- The allocation decision -- Youths in an adult magistrates' court -- Mental disorder -- Perceived advantages and disadvantages of summary trial -- Sending to the Crown Court -- Managing for trial -- Disclosure -- Bail -- The dock -- Firearms in court -- Costs at first hearing -- Youths, Vulnerable Witnesses and Defendants -- Introduction -- Eligibility -- Applications -- Special measures -- The Trial -- The overriding objective -- Abuse of process arguments -- Application to adjourn on day of trial -- Additional editorial comment on disclosure not provided by the day of trial -- Consequences if a trial proceeds in the absence of the defendant or prosecution witness -- Procedure -- Evidence -- Excluding evidence -- Competence -- Hearsay -- Confession -- Expert evidence -- Good character -- Bad character -- Identification -- Inferences from silence -- A defendant's lies -- A word about CCTV -- Taking the oath or making an affirmation -- Memory refreshing -- Leading questions -- No case to answer.

Burden and standard of proof, verdict and reasons -- Co-defendants -- Common Offences -- Fail to surrender to bail -- Assault -- Drink Drive -- Theft and related offences -- Public order offences -- Knives and offensive weapons -- Drive while disqualified -- Common defences -- Introduction -- Self-defence -- Prevention of Crime -- Reasonableness and lawful excuse -- Duress -- Human rights -- Intoxication -- Execution of duty -- Misbehaviour in court -- Sentencing -- The purposes of sentencing -- General principles -- Using the guidelines -- Does prison work? -- Imprisonment -- Sending to the Crown Court for sentence -- Indications of sentence and implied promises -- Suspended Sentences -- Community penalties -- Fines -- Absolute and Conditional Discharges -- Prevalence -- Previous convictions -- Reduction in sentence for a guilty plea -- Deferred sentence -- Compensation, victim surcharge, prosecution costs and ancillary orders -- Newton hearings -- Role of the defence advocate -- Role of the prosecutor -- Duty to give reasons for sentence and credit for remand in custody or electronically monitored bail -- Reopening sentence -- A Sentencing Code -- Twenty-first Century Developments -- Technology -- Constitutional changes and the independence of the judiciary -- Procedural changes -- Unrepresented defendants -- Austerity -- Criminal Justice Terms and Abbreviations -- Appendix 1: A typical domestic violence case -- Appendix 2: Adjournments: The Lord Chief Justice's Practice Direction, April 2019 -- Index -- Back cover.

In this concise and valuable book the authors distil their vast expertise for the benefit of all those needing quick and targeted points of reference on key aspects of magistrates' court law, whether as newcomers, justices, legal advisers, or criminal practitioners. Hugely informed and presented in an accessible format, it explains the central law, practice and procedure of these courts.The framework of summary justice has changed comprehensively in the past decade in terms of evidence, procedure, guidelines, sentencing, training and the fair but efficient expedition of cases. This book sets out these developments as well as inescapable aspects of case management.Gathers core information in one place.Sets out key processes in a manageable and readable way.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.