Criminal

  • Abet

    To counsel, procure or command someone to commit a...

  • Absolute Discharge

    This is when a court takes no further action against an offender, although their offence and discharge will appear on their criminal...

  • Abuse of Process

    This is "something so unfair and wrong that the court should not allow a prosecutor to proceed with what is in all other respect a regular proceeding" (Hui Chi-Ming v...

  • Accused

    The person who has allegedly committed a criminal...

  • Acquittal

    The discharge of a defendant following a verdict or direction of "not...

  • Actus Reus

    The act of committing a...

  • Bail

    A Defendant's release from custody pending their next appearance in...

  • Bill Of Indictment

    A written statement of the charges against a defendant who is sent for trial to the Crown...

  • Bind Over

    A court order which requires a person to carry out some...

  • Caution

    Warning given by a Police...

  • Committal

    The procedure of directing the case to the Crown Court to be dealt with, following examination by the Magistrates of a case involving an indictable or either way...

  • Committal Order

    An order of the Court placing someone in...

  • Community Punshment Order

    A sentence which requires a young person to complete unpaid community work for a period of 40-240...

  • Community Rehabilitation Order

    This is equivalent to a Supervision Order, but it's for young people aged...

  • Concurrent Sentance

    A direction by a Court that a number of sentences of imprisonment should run at the same...

  • Conditional Discharge

    A discharge of a convicted defendant without sentence on condition that they do not re-offend within a specified period of...

  • Consecutive Sentance

    This is an order for a subsequent sentence of imprisonment to commence as soon as a previous sentence...

  • Conviction

    To be found in violation of a law by a judge or...

  • Corroboration

    Evidence by one person confirming that of another or supporting...

  • Count

    An individual offence set out in an...

  • Cross Examination

    Questioning of a witness in trial by opposing...

  • Crown Court

    The Crown Court deals with all crime committed for trial by Magistrates Courts. It also acts as an appeal Court for cases heard and dealt with by the...

  • Custidial Sentence

    Sentence which involves locking up the...

  • Discharge

    See Absolute Discharge or Conditional...

  • Dock

    Enclosure in the Criminal Court for the defendant on...

  • Either Way Offence

    An offence for which the accused may elect the case to be dealt with either summarily by the magistrates or by committal to the Crown Court to be tried by...

  • Enforcement

    This is a method of pursuing a civil action after judgment has been made in favour of a...

  • Exhibit

    Item or document referred to in an affidavit or used as evidence during a Court trial or...

  • Indictment

    A written statement of charges made against a defendant who is sent for trial to the Crown...

  • Lay Magistrate

    A Magistrate who is not legally...

  • Magistrate

    A civil officer with the power to administer and enforce law in a Magistrates...

  • Magistrates Court

    A Court where criminal proceedings are conducted before Justices of the Peace - who either deal with the case themselves or commit to the Crown...

  • Mens Rea

    The intention to commit a...

  • Motors Insurers Bureau (MIB)

    a body set up by the insurance industry and funded to compensate people injured in motor accidents by uninsured or "hit and run" motorists...

  • Non Molestation Order

    An order within an injunction to prevent one person physically attacking...

  • Notifiable Offence

    An offence considered serious enough to be recorded by the...

  • Offender

    Someone convicted of a...

  • Plea

    A defendant's reply to a charge put to the by a...

  • Prosectution

    The institution or conduct of criminal proceedings against a...

  • Reasonable Doubt Beyond

    The required standard of proof in criminal courts in the...

  • Remand

    To order an accused person to be kept in custody or placed on bail pending further Court...

  • Summary Offence

    A criminal offence which is triable only by a Magistrates...

  • Supervision Order

    This is basically a three year sentence with various conditions...

  • Suspended Sentence

    A custodial sentence which will not take effect unless there is a subsequent offence within a specified...

  • Trespass

    Trespass is a wrong. A trespasser is a person who enters on a land without authority. A person/body who continues to remain on land after expiry of his/her/ its authority will be a trespasser. Proceedings can be brought to remove a trespasser and regain...

  • Verdict

    The decision by a jury as to the guilt of a...
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