Classification of Offences

Criminal Courts

In this course, Professor Jonathan Rogers (University of Cambridge), explores criminal courts. In the first module, we examine how offences are classified in the criminal process. In the second module, we discuss trials in the Magistrates’ Court, before turning to appeals from the Magistrates’ Court in the third module. In the fourth module, we look at trials in the Crown Court. In the fifth module, we look at the constraints on appeals for the prosecution from Crown Court trial, as well as the defendant’s options of appeal from the Crown Court. In the sixth and final module, we turn back to look at either-way offences, and evaluate the criminal process for such offences, as well as exploring possible ways of reform.

Classification of Offences

In this module, we begin by talking about how we classify criminal offences and how this impacts trial process, focusing in particular on (i) summary offences (ii) indictable only offences (iii) either-way offences (iv) the first appearance of the defendant in the Magistrates’ Court (v) the process of deciding where the defendant will be tried for an either-way offence.