Criminal

Our Criminal Glossary

Abet 

 

To counsel, procure or command someone to commit a crime

 

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

 

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 R)

 

The person who has allegedly committed a criminal offence

 

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

 

The act of committing a crime

Bail 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Warning given by a Police Officer

 

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 offence

 

An order of the Court placing someone in prison

 

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

 

This is equivalent to a Supervision Order, but it's for young people aged 16-17

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Evidence by one person confirming that of another or supporting evidence

Count 

 

An individual offence set out in an indictment

 

Questioning of a witness in trial by opposing counsel

 

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 Magistrates.

 

Sentence which involves locking up the offender

 

See Absolute Discharge or Conditional Discharge

Dock 

 

Enclosure in the Criminal Court for the defendant on trial

 

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 jury

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

A Magistrate who is not legally trained

 

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

 

The intention to commit a crime

 

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

 

An offence considered serious enough to be recorded by the police

 

Someone convicted of a crime

Plea 

 

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

 

The institution or conduct of criminal proceedings against a person

 

The required standard of proof in criminal courts in the UK

Remand 

 

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

 

A criminal offence which is triable only by a Magistrates Court

 

This is basically a three year sentence with various conditions attached

 

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

 

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