NCJ Number
54098
Editor(s)
C J ACRED
Date Published
1978
Length
490 pages
Annotation
A GUIDE DESIGNED TO ASSIST ENGLISH MAGISTRATES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR SENTENCING DUTIES AND OTHER FUNCTIONS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE GUIDE OPENS WITH A SECTION ON GENERAL CRIMINAL OFFENSES DEALT WITH IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS. FOR EACH OFFENSE, THE CHARGE IS STATED, THE RELEVANT STATUTE IS CITED, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS NOTED, LEGAL NOTES AND DEFINITIONS ARE PRESENTED, AND CONSIDERATIONS IN SENTENCING ARE DISCUSSED. FOLLOWING A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE MAGISTRATE'S SENTENCING POWERS (ILLUSTRATED BY A CHART DEPICTING THE CONSIDERATIONS AND INFORMATION THAT SHOULD ENTER INTO SENTENCING DECISIONS), SEPARATE DEFINITIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ARE PRESENTED FOR EACH DISPOSITION AVAILABLE TO MAGISTRATES. OTHER SECTIONS DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH TRAFFIC OFFENSES (PENALTIES FOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES, A SPEED/DISTANCE CHART, STOPPING DISTANCES, AND OTHER INFORMATION USEFUL IN ARRIVING AT TRAFFIC CASE DISPOSITION); DOMESTIC PROCEEDINGS; PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING JUVENILES; LIQUOR LICENSING; APPLICATIONS FOR BOOKMAKERS' LICENSES AND PERMITS TO INSTALL AMUSEMENT MACHINES; REMANDS IN CUSTODY; AND BAIL. GUIDELINES TO BE FOLLOWED IN ANNOUNCING DECISIONS ARE PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH DISCUSSIONS OF THE ROLES OF CROWN COURT JUSTICES AND THE JUSTICES' CLERK. ALSO INCLUDED ARE SUGGESTIONS FOR HANDLING JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM (E.G., DEALINGS WITH THE PRESS, SIGNING OF WARRANTS, ORDERS, AND AGREEMENTS). A GENERAL INDEX AND SEPARATE INDEXES FOR THE SECTIONS ON CRIMES, SENTENCING, AND TRAFFIC OFFENSES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)