Frontline Matters

The court takes no further action against an offender, but the offender's discharge will appear on his or her criminal record.

The person charged. The person who has allegedly committed the offence

Form of reply to, or confirmation of, service of process

Discharge of defendant following verdict or direction of not guilty

Law, as an act of parliament

Temporary suspension of the hearing of a case by order of the Court (maybe for a short period, eg to next day or without a date being given).

Judgment or decision of a Court or tribunal

A barrister or solicitor representing a party in a hearing before a Court

Declaration by a witness who has no religious belief, or has religious beliefs that prevent him/her taking the oath, that the evidence he/she is giving is the truth

Before – An indication within text to refer to an earlier passage

Application to a higher Court or authority for review of a decision of a lower Court or authority

The higher court to which cases are sent when either the defence or prosecution wish to challenge the resolt from a Magistrates or Crown Court.

Person who appeals

Lawfol detention by a police officer.

A party to legal proceedings who is receiving legal aid

An order that directs an employer of a debtor to deduct regolarly an amount, fixed by the Court, from the debtor's earnings and pay that sum into Court

Government Minister responsible for prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Release of a defendant from custody, until his/her next appearance in Court, subject sometimes to security being given and/or compliance with certain conditions

The collective term for barristers

A member of the bar: the branch of the legal profession which has rights of audience before all Courts

A warrant issued by the magistrates or judge for an absent defendant to be arrested and brought before a Court either on bail or in custody

In the Crown Court or (more usually) the Magistrates Court, and signed by an officer of the Court

An order which requires the defendant to return to Court on an unspecified date for sentence. Failure to observe this order may resolt in a forfeit or penalty to be enforced

Written instructions to counsel to appear at a hearing on behalf of a party prepared by the solicitor and setting out the facts of the case and any case law relied upon

A meeting between a solicitor and/or barrister and their client

The set of processes and all supporting information and actions required to take a case from initial creation or receipt through to completion; including information about the nature, handling and progress of a case

A reference number allocated to each case by the court or other criminal justice organisation

1. Simple Caution – non-statutory warning given to adults (18+) by the police, following admission of guilt, as an alternative to prosecution, which though not a conviction forms part of a person's criminal record
2. Conditional Caution – warning under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (with reparative and/or rehabilitative conditions attached), given by the police after a CPS decision to issue and following admission of guilt, to adults (18+) as an alternative to prosecution, which though not a conviction forms part of a person's criminal record

A certificate of costs allowed following taxation by a judicial or taxing officer (Previously referred to as an Allocator)

1. Private room, or Court from which the public are excluded in which a District Judge or Judge may conduct certain sorts of hearings
2. Offices used by a barrister

A formal accusation against a person

A judge who sits in the Crown Court

Matters concerning private rights and not offences against the state

This will provide a trusted single point through which Criminal Justice Organisation IT systems can share case information and the Criminal Justice community can obtain up-to-date information on cases. It will enable separate criminal justice information systems to share a whole range of up to date information, including data ranging from case material to DVLA records. The CJS Exchange will make the right information available to the right people at the right time across the criminal justice system. Criminal justice organisations will be able to share case file information and obtain instant, up to date progress on specific cases. It will achieve this by linking the strategic case management systems of the CPS, police and magistrates courts as well as providing links to prisons, the probation service and youth offending teams.

Information Technology is already underpinning much of the reform in the CJS. But over and above this, there is the £2.24 billion (to 2007/08) Criminal Justice System Information Technology (CJS IT) Programme which will harness new and existing systems so Criminal Justice professionals in the different Government CJS agencies – as well as independent practitioners such as lawyers and victim and witness organisations – can work more closely together, in particular managing cases more effectively across the CJS as a whole.

Criminal Justice Management Information System

Simple Speedy Summary Justice in the Magistrates' Courts. A new way of working to encompass a simpler set of processes and procedures, that has been successfully piloted in magistrates' courts in four areas.

Criminal Justice Extranet (also known as CJN) which some government criminal justice organisations use instead of the Government Secure Intranet (GSI).

COMPASS CMS is a national Case Management System and Management Information System in use across the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), enabling better preparation and presentation of the prosecution case.

Solicitors authorised by the Lord Chancellor to administer oaths and affirmations to a statement of evidence

1. Committal for Trial: Following examination by the Magistrates of a case involving an either way offence the procedure of directing the case to the Crown Court to be dealt with
2. Committal for Sentence: Where the Magistrates consider that the offence justifies a sentence greater than they are empowered to impose they may commit the defendant to the Crown Court for sentence to be passed by a judge
3. Committal Order: An order of the Court committing someone to prison
4. Committal Warrant (see WARRANT OF COMMITTAL)

The law established by previous cases decided

Alternatives to prison, community punishment, non-custodial options, Community sentences Sentences of the court which deal with the offender in the community rather than in prison. These include community punishment, community rehabilitation orders and drug treatment and testing orders.

Between 40-100 hours of unpaid work for the community, alongside a programme of work designed to deal with the offending behaviour and personal improvement supervised by the Probation Service.

Community Punishment (formerly a Community Service Order) is a community sentence in which offenders work unpaid for up to 240 hours on local community projects under close supervision.

Community Rehabilitation (formerly a Probation Order) is a community sentence which involves regolar contact with the Probation Service. May also include attending an Offending Behaviour Programme to tackle the reasons why the crime was committed.

Sum of money to make up for or make amends for loss, breakage, hardship, inconvenience or personal injury caused by another

A court order requiring the offender to pay compensation to the victim.

A direction by a Court that a number of sentences of imprisonment or community penalty shoold run at the same time

See CAUTION

A discharge of a convicted defendant without sentence on condition that he/she does not re-offend within a specified period of time

Money paid to a witness in advance of the hearing of a case as compensation for time spent attending Court

An order for a subsequent sentence of imprisonment or community penalty to commence as soon as a previous sentence expires. Can apply to more than two sentences

An offence, punishable by imprisonment, of disobedience or wilful disregard to the judicial process

When an offender has pleaded or been found guilty of an offence in a court he or she is said to have been convicted. The conviction then appears on the offender's criminal record.

Evidence by one person confirming that of another or supporting evidence, for example forensic evidence (bloodstain, fibres etc) in murder cases

A Barrister

An individual offence set out in an indictment

Body with judicial powers (see also COURT ROOM)

Divided into:

1. civil and,
2. criminal divisions and hears appeals:
3. from decision in the High Court and County Courts and,
4. against convictions or sentences passed by the Crown Court

The room in which cases are heard

Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996

Case progression officer

CPS out-of-hours telephone service provided by a team of Duty Prosecutors for the purpose of providing charging decisions. CPS Direct operates on Monday – Friday from 5 pm to 9 am and 24 hours a day on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays

Person who is guilty of a criminal offence

Public body responsible for investigating alleged miscarriages of justice.

Criminal Justice Information Technology (CJIT) works with many Government agencies, legal professionals and others involved in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) to identify opportunities and develop solutions to transform the way they communicate and work so they can be more efficient and more effective. Achieving this is not simply about providing IT-based answers, but through close collaboration, ensuring that IT is harnessed to drive real change and improve – and join up – ways of working. CJIT is part of the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR).

Criminal Procedure Rules

The Crown Court deals with all crime committed or sent for trial by Magistrates Courts. Cases for trial are heard before a judge and jury. The Crown Court also acts as an appeal Court for cases heard and dealt with by the Magistrates

The Crown Prosecution Service decides whether there is enough evidence to take a case to court, and whether it woold be in the public interest. After the decision to prosecute has been taken the CPS lawyer or solicitor represents the CPS in court.

Crown Prosecutors are lawyers responsible for reviewing and, where appropriate, prosecuting criminal cases following investigation by the police. They also advise the police on matters relating to criminal investigations. In each case reviewed the prosecutor should consider whether there is sufficient evidence to pass the evidential test and, if so, whether the public interest requires a prosecution. Although Crown Prosecutors work closely with the police they are responsible to the Crown Prosecution Service, an independent governmental organisation

A curfew order is similar to house arrest. People must stay indoors, usually at their home, for the curfew period. A tag, worn on the ankle or wrist, notifies monitoring services if the offender is absent during the curfew hours.

Sentences where the offender is locked up in a prison, Young Offender Institution or Secure Training Centre.

In fact – "As a matter of fact"

Person sued; person standing trial or appearing for sentence.

The department in government responsible for upholding justice, rights and democracy.

Guidance issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions to enable custody officers to decide whether a person should be charged

Guidance issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions to enable custody officers and Crown Prosecutors to decide whether a person should receive a Conditional Caution

The offender is found guilty of the offence, and the conviction appears on his or her criminal record, but either no further action is taken at all(absolute discharge, or no further action is taken as long as the offender does not offend again in a certain period of time (conditional discharge).

A decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to continue with a case

Authorities relating to disclosure by the defence are:

1. Part 1 Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and, for investigations begun on or after 4 April 2005, the 1996 Act as amended by the relevant provisions of Part 5, Criminal Justice Act 2003, CPI Act 1996 (Defence Disclosure Time Limits) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No 684)
2. Attorney General's Guidelines on Disclosure 2005

Authorities relating to disclosure by the prosecution are:

1. Part 1, Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and, for investigations begun on or after 4 April 2005, the 1996 Act as amended by the relevant provisions in Part 5 of Criminal Justice Act 2003
2. Attorney General's Guidelines on Disclosure 2005
3. Police-CPS Disclosure Manual

A legally qualified person who sits in place of, or with magistrates. Previously known as a stipendiary magistrate

The Divisional Court of the Queen's Bench Division deals largely with certain appeals on points of law from many Courts

Advice to the police and CPS in relation to DNA evidence, available locally and on the ACPO and CPS intranets

Enclosure in criminal Court for the defendant on trial

A sentence for drug users who receive treatment for their drug use and have to give regolar urine tests to make sure they are not using drugs.

Duty Prosecutors are Crown Prosecutors who attend police stations to provide guidance and advice to investigators and make charging decisions. Additionally an out of hours service operates nationally through CPS Direct

(see INDICTABLE OFFENCE, SUMMARY OFFENCE) An offence for which the accused may be tried by the magistrates or by committal to the Crown Court to be tried by jury

An offender or person on bail, on a curfew order or Home Detention Curfew at the end of a prison sentence, has an electronic tag. The tag, worn on the ankle or wrist, notifies monitoring services if the offender is absent during the curfew hours.

Item or document used as evidence during a Court trial or hearing

Person employed to give evidence on a subject in which they are qualified or have expertise.

A sentence of the court which involves the offender paying money to the court as punishment for their crime.

Failure to appear at court or at a police station

Guilty plea

A civil Court which consists of three divisions:

1. Queen's Bench (can be known as King's Bench Division if a King is assuming the throne) – civil disputes for recovery of money, including breach of contract, personal injuries, libel/slander
2. Family – concerned with matrimonial maters and proceedings relating to children, eg wardship
3. Chancery – property matters including fraud and bankruptcy

Her Majesty's Courts Service administers the civil, family and criminal courts in England and Wales. This covers Crown, county and magistrates' courts.

see JUDGE and HIGH COURT

A prisoner serving a sentence of between 8 months and 4 years can be released up to 90 days early under strict curfew arrangements and wearing an electronic tag.

Government department responsible for all national issues such as crime and immigration

A criminal offence that can only be tried by the Crown Court. The different types of offence are classified 1, 2, 3 or 4. Murder is a class 1 offence

A written statement of the charges against a defendant sent for trial to the Crown Court, and signed by an officer of the Court

An officer appointed to administer the law and who has authority to hear and try cases in a Court of law

Final decision of a Court

1. Relating to the administration of justice or to the judgment of a Court
2. A judge or other officer empowered to act as a judge

A person who has been summoned by a Court to be a member of the jury

Body of 12 people sworn to try a case and reach a verdict according to the evidence in a Court

A lay magistrate – person appointed to administer judicial business in a Magistrates Court. Also sits in the Crown Court with a judge or recorder to hear appeals and committals for sentence

The area and matters over which a Court has legal authority.

The system of roles established by an act of parliament, custom or practice

Describes the judges of the House of Lords who are known as the Lords of Appeal in ordinary.

General term used to describe barristers (who usually work in the Crown Court and Appeal Court) and solicitors.

Facility for the fees and expenses of counsel, solicitors or other legal representatives retained by those of modest means to be paid from a fund administered by the Legal Aid Board

The Libra Project is putting new IT into all magistrates' courts. It will provide court users with modern equipment and software that will help them improve the way they work and serve their customers, while also forming a platform to build on for the future. The project will standardise the IT used in courts, which are currently using a range of outdated systems

This form is used to ensure that all issues are resolved and that the parties are ready for trial

The cabinet minister who acts as speaker of the House of Lords and oversees the hearings of the Law Lords. Additional responsibilities include supervising the procedure of Courts other than Magistrates or Coroners Courts and selection of judges, magistrates, queens counsel and members of tribunals. The Lord Chancellor is also the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs.

Senior judge of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) who also heads the Queens Bench Division of the High Court of Justice)

Title given to certain judges sitting in the Court of Appeal

Someone who sits as part of a group of three and acts as a judge in the Magistrates court. Magistrates in England and Wales are trained volunteers.

A Court where criminal proceedings are commenced before Justices of the Peace, or District Judges, who examine the evidence/statements and either deal with the case themselves or commit to the Crown Court for trial or sentence

The explanation for the offence given on behalf of a guilty party in order to excuse or partly excuse the offence committed in an attempt to minimise the sentence

Mode of Trial: the decision-making process in the magistrates' courts in either-way cases, where a not guilty plea or no plea has been indicated, as to whether the trial is to take place in the magistrates' courts or Crown Court

NOMS will provide end-to-end offender management and replaces the current system where responsibility for offenders is split between the probation and prison services

The NSPIS Custody application enables the management of detained people; the NSPIS Case Preparation application enables the formulation of information into an electronic file for presentation to police supervisors

A Newton hearing is held when a defendant admits his guilt but disputes the prosecution's version of events and the court needs to determine the basis on which the defendant is to be sentenced

Not guilty plea

Someone who is authorised to swear oaths and certify the execution of deeds

Offence deemed serious enough to be recorded by the Police. Includes most indictable and triable-either-way offence.

Those traffic offences not included in The Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Specified Proceedings) Order 1999, SI 1999/904 made under the provisions of s.3(3) Prosecution of Offences Act 1985

The National Strategy for Police Information Systems (NSPIS) is being introduced to improve the way cases are processed from custody to court. It will allow the police to electronically capture accurate case information electronically and share it with other agencies.

A verbal promise by a person with religious beliefs to tell the truth

Someone who has been convicted of a crime.

A programme of work undertaken with an offender which is designed to tackle the reasons or behaviour which leads to his or her offending. Examples of Offending Behaviour Programmes are: Substance-related Offending; Drink Impaired Drivers; Aggression Replacement Therapy; Sex Offender Treatment Programme; Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme.

A direction by a Court

Plea before venue. A procedure in the magistrates' courts where, in an either-way case, a defendant is given the opportunity to indicate his or her likely plea

A defendant's reply to a charge put to him by a court; ie guilty or not guilty

Police National Computer. The PNC is a national information system, available to the police, criminal justice agencies and a variety of other non-policing organisations

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

After – An indication to refer to something to be found further on

The decision of a case which established principles of law that act as an authority for future cases of a similar nature

A preliminary appointment at which the magistrates or District Judge consider the issues before the Court and fixes the timetable for the trial.

The National Probation Service's work with offenders combines continuous assessment and management of risk and dangerousness with the provision of expert supervision programmes designed to reduce re-offending.

The institution or conduct of criminal proceedings against a person

Person who prosecutes – usually the Crown Prosecution Service (see PROSECUTION)

Pre Sentence Report

As if – Any person exercising powers similar to those of a judge woold be sitting in a Quasi-Judicial capacity

Barristers of at least ten years standing may apply to become queen's counsel. QCs undertake work of an important nature and are referred to as 'silks' which is derived from the Courts gown that is worn. Will be known as king's counsel if a king assumes the throne

The standard of proof in criminal courts in the UK is that the case is proved 'beyond reasonable doubt'. The Crown Prosecutor must prove 'beyond reasonable doubt' that the defendant committed the offence.

Members of the legal profession (barristers or solicitors) who are appointed to act in a judicial capacity on a part time basis. They may progress to become a full time judge.

The accused person (defendant) is kept in custody or placed on bail pending further Court appearance(s).

When an offender commits a new crime after being convicted of a previous offence.

This may involve a meeting between the offender and victim, with a mediator, where the victim can tell the offender how the offence has affected them, and the offender has the chance to make amends directly to the victim of the crime.

Entitlement to appear before a Court in a legal capacity and prosecute or defend proceedings on behalf of a party to the proceedings

STCs are purpose-built centres for young offenders up to the age of 17. They are run by private operators contracted by the Home Office.

Indictable only cases sent from the magistrates' courts directly to the Crown Court under s.51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Delivery by post or personal service of the case, or other court documents

Queens Counsel, a senior barrister sometimes referred to as a leader or leading counsel (See QC)

See CAUTION

Member of the legal profession chiefly concerned with advising clients and preparing their cases and representing them in some Courts. May also act as advocates before certain Courts or tribunals

Measures which can be ordered by the court to improve the quality of the evidence given by a vulnerable witness

Specified offences are those so specified in the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Specified Proceedings) Order 1999, SI 1999/904 made under the provisions of s.3 (3) Prosecution of Offences Act 1985

A written account by a witness of the facts of details of a matter.

A document issued by the delegated authority (usually a Government Minister or committee) named within an act of parliament which affects the workings of the original Act

A legally qualified and salaried Magistrate – now called a District Judge

In the course of trial – Whilst a court case is under consideration. Proceedings are sub-Judice and details cannot be disclosed

A criminal offence which can only be tried by a Magistrates' Court

A review of the evidence and directions as to the law by a judge immediately before a jury retires to consider its verdict

Order to appear or to produce evidence to a Court

Order to attend for jury service

Order to appear as a witness at a hearing

A person's undertaking to be liable for another's non-attendance at Court

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

A person being investigated in relation to a particular offence or offences.

An offender or person on bail, on a Curfew Order or Home Detention Curfew at the end of a prison sentence, has an electronic tag. The tag, worn on the ankle or wrist, notifies monitoring services if the offender is absent during the curfew hours.

An examination of a solicitor's bill in civil proceedings by a Court to ensure that all charges against the legal aid fund are fair and reasonable (see also PARTY AND PARTY COSTS which are also examined by a Court)

A period of time within which the case must be listed for trial

Beyond the power – An act that falls outside or beyond the jurisdiction of the court

The finding of guilty or not guilty by a jury

Single national information system shared by both police and probation services to provide a register of sex offenders, violent offenders and dangerous offenders. It is a management tool to help supervise offenders, compile pre-sentence reports and investigate cases of abuse

The court may consider issuing a warrant for the arrest of:

1. a defendant who fails to answer to his bail; or
2. a non-attending witness who has been served with a witness summons OCJR's 'Getting Defendants to Court' – guidance is available to prosecutors, in relation to applications, and to the police, in relation to the swift execution

A person who gives evidence in Court (see also EXPERT WITNESS).

The role of the witness care unit is to provide a single point of contact to prosecution victims and witnesses, providing them with regular updates of the proceedings. In addition, they assess and meet the needs of victims and witnesses to support them in their attendance at court

A prison for young people between the ages of 15 (16 for girls) and 21. Young offenders have to be kept separately from adolts, and juveniles (under 18s) separate from 18-21s.

A Youth Offending Team is made up of local representatives from the police, Probation Service, social services, health, education, drugs and alcohol misuse and housing officers. The YOT identifies the needs of each young offender. It identifies the specific problems that make the young person offend as well as measuring the risk they pose to others. This enables the YOT to identify suitable programmes to address the needs of the young person with the intention of preventing further offending.