What will happen at crown court

[liltshake]

I’m just wondering if someone could let me know what happens at a crown court when someone just needs to state their plea. I’ve been asked to attend with someone (and happy to do so) but need to know how long it will take etc as im going away that evening. I don’t want to ask the person too many questions as I don’t want it to look like I don’t want to go with them, as I want to be supportive (they are pleading not guilty). And I don’t think they know much about it anyway. Any info? Thanks!

How can the person in question not know much about it? That’s pretty worrying, especially for a Crown Court appearance. You might be being misled here OP.

Basic explanation is as follows - if they go NG a trial date will be set with various other dates in between for info to be exchanged etc. If they go G, a sentencing date will be set with an option for a Probation pre- sentence report to be ordered, which assists with the Judges’s sentencing decision.

There may or may not be bail conditions set or amended, and depending on the ins and outs of the case in question, the Judge might look to remand that person in custody until the sentence date (this is a lot more complicated now due to the prison situation) and would depend on the person’s history, any risk to the victim/wider public, personal circs etc.

@WinterMorn when you say especially for a crown court appearance, do you mean because crown court is worse than magistrates? I really don’t know enough about this stuff, but I know initially this case was in magistrates but has now been transferred to crown court. This person has no history of crime, had a respected job etc before all of this. I’ve known them since I was a young child (not family).

Um, well its been transferred to the Crown Court I presume because the Magistrates think if convicted the sentence may need to be more severe than anything they can impose.

If your friend has a solicitor they should have advised her about this and if she hasnt she needs one.

The Court may alsi be able to advise you

Magistrates Court deal with offences with a maximum tariff of 6 months. Once someone is charged with an offence, there is an initial appearance at Magistrates, then if it is a more serious offence with a higher tariff, it is transferred to Crown.

Courts operate in normal business hours so you won’t be there into the evening if that’s your concern. Unless they’re listed first there’s lots of waiting around.

As others have said, cases go to Crown when the Magistrates Court have insufficient sentencing powers - meaning that some cases will automatically go there after the initial Mags appearance. I hope your friend has taken legal advice…?

I think crown courts finish at about 4pm (the old bailey does)..

Cases are usually scheduled for a morning slot (beginning at 10, usually finished by lunch at 1, or afternoon slot, done by 4. But I often see quick case management slots being in the morning. If pleading NG it will be quite quick and just set a trial date, maybe some ‘case management’ discussions with your friend’s lawyers.

AFAIK you won’t be allowed in the ‘behind the scenes’ part of the court and will have to sit in the public gallery and meet your friend afterwards.

I was at crown court for jury service recently. As others have said they stuck firmly to a 9-5 day with the whole court shutting down for lunch for an hour at 1.

if it looks like something might run over beyond 5 they won’t start it, even if that means stopping at 3 and pushing it to another day.

from what I saw you’ll have a rough time it will start like ‘not before 10am’ but if the case before runs on you may wait around all day.

you should still finish at 5 or not long after

Ps phone the court you are attending and ask, contrary to my expectations they were incredibly helpful and informative and went above and beyond to answer questions and share usual processes.

Crown court is tried by a jury, and the trial run by a Judge.

Magistrates court has no jury, and is tried by 3 magistrates.

All cases of those charged start in magistrates court but depending on severity / type of crime and sentence potentially imposed, will be referred to Crown Court as appropriate and directed by the CJS.