Details of the types of cases tried by the Magistrates` Courts. For more detailed advice on Central Criminal Court (City of London`s Crown Court) cases, see our guide to criminal cases: Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court). For tips on locating files from other types of criminal courts, see our presentation guide. Information on the range of services that witnesses to crimes can receive can be found at The Witness Charter. Crown Court records have been selected for permanent preservation, in part to reflect the variety of cases heard by the courts, but not all individual records are retained permanently. Those that are retained are generally records that record more serious crimes, cases that attracted public interest or were significant (legal or historical), or where the defendant was important or notorious, or where the case caused widespread public concern. You will find clear signs to help you find your way. All cases are listed under the name of the defendant. Give the receptionist or a member of security personnel the name of the defendant and show them the letter asking you to go to court. They show you where to go. Sometimes there are short-term delays, even on the day of the fall.
Be sure to review the details of the case the day before the trial. Method 1: If you are familiar with the Crown Court where the case was heard, search for its name in the table in section 5 of this guide and click on the case file links – this will take you to a catalogue description page for all records held for that court in the National Archives. Use the «Keyword Search» field to search for the name of the defendant or accused. Your lawyer (if you have one) can explain what is going on in court – the judge and court staff will also give instructions about the trial. Most records prepared prior to 1999 are kept only on paper. Access paper documents from the court where the case was filed or at one of the Federal Document Centres (RCFs). Contact the court where the case was filed for more information. Access to the file is also possible via the publicly accessible terminals of the registry of the court where the case was brought. You can also contact the Victorian Government Reporting Service (VGRS) (external link) to request a copy of a court record for criminal proceedings in district and supreme courts. Different Crown courts transfer documents at different speeds, so some of the following sets of records are less complete than others. Many Crown Courts have not yet sent indictments to the National Archives and their records remain in the custody of HM Courts and Tribunal Service. Although many cases are dealt with by a magistrates` court or a juvenile court, the most serious cases are usually referred to a Crown Court for trial.
In the Crown Court, a jury of men and women (up to 12 members of the public) decides whether the accused is guilty. Individual researchers working on defined research projects intended for scientific work can use the attached form (pdf) to apply for PACER fee waivers in several courts. In accordance with the EPO Rules on Fees, the request must be limited in scope and not intended for redistribution over the Internet or for commercial purposes. If the defendant pleads guilty to the crime, you don`t have to go to court or testify. In some cases, your testimony will be approved by both the prosecution and the defense, meaning your testimony will be read in court without you having to testify. If you are a victim of crime or a witness in a case, you can contact the Citizens Advice Witness Service (external link) for information and to look around the court. Almost all cases begin before the Magistrates` Court. In the case of «solely punishable» offences, the accused is referred to the Crown Court for trial. If court records and case files can be kept permanently, they are turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for preservation and preservation. These documents are accessible directly from NARA. If you made a written statement and would like to see a copy before you testify, ask the person who asked you to appear in court to give you a copy. To protect the public from serious harm, the court also considers the nature of the offence and the risk of the offender committing further crimes, and may make the hospital order a restraining order.
Thus, the offender cannot be released out of hospital and cannot be released from the hospital without the authorization of the Department of Justice, except by the Department of Justice or a mental health review tribunal. Information on court dates can be found in Victorian courts. Always check hearing dates, as they may change on short notice. If an offender suffers from a defined form of mental disorder, the court may order the offender to be admitted and detained in hospital for treatment. Please note that if you are requesting a fee waiver from a single court and/or for purposes other than research, please contact that court directly. Before you begin research, remember that the National Archives only has samples of surviving Crown court records and that many Crown courts have not yet sent charge files to the National Archives. Many documents are still in the custody of HM Courts and Tribunal Service. For information on these cases, please contact the Department of Justice. Contact information for the various Crown courts is available on the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website. The Magistrates` Courts hear criminal cases, juvenile cases and certain civil proceedings before the Magistrates` Courts.
They may also be allowed to hear cases in family court. Find a case before the Federal Court using Public Access to the Court`s Electronic Records (PACER) or by visiting the clerk`s office of the courthouse where the case was filed. You can see which cases a court hears each day and check their progress on the court lists. If you are worried about being released from work to go to court, you should let your employer know as soon as possible. It`s not your choice whether or not to go to court, so your employer should normally give you time off. You can present to your employer the letter you received from the Public Prosecutor`s Office (PPS) or a defence lawyer to prove that you need to go to court.