If you are over 18 and charged with a criminal offence (a crime), which is serious or otherwise you will always receive a charge sheet. Any solicitor’s office will tell you that this document sets out the nature of the crime you are being charged with. The police determine whether or not you will be granted bail or be kept in custody before being taken to the magistrates’ court. An individual is unlikely to be given bail in the event of serious crimes such as rape or armed robbery, or if there is a similar past conviction for a serious crime, or if there is concern that that further crime will be committed if you are on bail.
If you are granted bail you will be expected to stick to certain conditions which include handing in your passport or living at a given address or you may be forbidden to associate with certain groups or individuals. The legal position in Bradford and in the UK is explicitly clear, if you break any condition of bail; you can be re-arrested and be taken to prison whilst you wait for your court date. All criminal cases are initially heard in a magistrate’s court and they normally handled in the presence of your solicitors (there is no jury), what are termed “summary offences”. These include less serious crime such as public drunkenness or minor property crime. Depending on the gravity of the crime offences termed “either way” offences can be heard in a magistrate’s court. These normally relate to burglary or illicit substances.
More serious crime solicitors in Bradford always passes to crown court and are termed “indictable offences” by solicitors. It is possible that if your sentence in magistrate’s court is more than 6 months imprisonment, that sentencing can be passed on to crown court. If you wish to appeal your sentencing Bradford will offer legal advice, these appeals are also heard in crown court. A crown court has jury, judge and legal representation in the form of solicitors. The judge and court staff will also provide advice on the legal machinations concerning the trial. A crown court hands down a range of sentences including custodial sentences. You may not always be able to appeal a sentence from a crown court.
Visit website for further information on the support and advice solicitors can give you if you are charged with an offence.
