Prepare for magistrates’ court
Understand attendance and what happens at a hearing.
Guidance and tools
Courts and sentencing
Understand the different criminal courts, sentencing, appeals and support for victims of crime.
Find practical guidance about Magistrates’ Courts, the Crown Court, Youth Courts, sentencing, appeals and support for victims.
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Prepare for a hearing
Prepare for Crown Court
Find information for defendants, witnesses and supporters.
Find legal help for court
Check the relevant advice, eligibility and application routes.
Sentencing and challenges
Understand sentencing and appeal routes
Find the relevant court and challenge guidance, including time limits.
Victims and witnesses
Support for victims of crime
Find support before reporting, during a case and after sentencing.
Prepare to give evidence
Find court attendance, support and expenses guidance for witnesses.
Children and young people
Choose the stage relevant to you. Children do not necessarily go through every stage.
Help for children and young people
Choose guidance for police contact, court, custody or community supervision.
Disability, mental health and communication
Get extra support
Find help with communication, appropriate adults and support at each stage.
More guidance
Youth Court
A guide to youth courts in England and Wales. It explains hearings, getting a lawyer, parents and carers, bail, trials, sentencing, privacy, support, safety…
Tools and directories
Use a practical tool or search a structured criminal justice collection.
Sentencing videos and remarks
Find published sentencing hearings and linked sentencing remarks.
Offence classifications
Search active CJS offence codes, legislation and source classifications.
Sentence date calculator
Calculate calendar dates using a confirmed release fraction, for one adult standard determinate sentence without time adjustments.
Offender flows from court to prison
Explore indicative adult male and young offender routes in England and Wales using National Offender Flows 2024 data. Actual allocation can differ.