Blackstone's Magistrates' Court Handbook 2020

The new edition of the bestselling Blackstone's Magistrates' Court Handbook provides a complete practical guide for the busy practitioner, incorporating essential extracts from the Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines. It delivers all you need in one trustworthy source.

Covering all the key aspects of magistrates' court practice, the book focuses on the areas most likely to arise at short notice requiring an instant response from the advocate, as well as on those offences most frequently experienced at court, such as public order, dishonesty, drugs, weapons, driving, criminal damage, and sexual offences.

With a new, more streamlined format for the 2020 edition, Blackstone's Magistrates' Court Handbook provides the perfect balance of portability and detail, facilitating quick navigation and instant decision-making. Tables, flow-charts, and a clear system of icons aid comprehension and speedy navigation. Cross-referencing to Blackstone's Criminal Practice 2020 provides you with easy access to in-depth commentary, whilst a new appendix updates the latest edition of Blackstone's Handbook of Youths in the Criminal Courts (published in 2018) to reflect major developments in the law and practice relating to youths in the criminal justice system.

Contents:Part A Procedure and EvidenceA1: Abuse of ProcessA2: AdjournmentsA3: Admissibility and Exclusion of EvidenceA4: Allocation and Plea Before VenueA5: Amending ChargeA6: Appeals and ReopeningA7: Bad CharacterA8: BailA9: Binding RulingsA10: Case ManagementA11: Civil OrdersA12: Commencing Proceedings: Time LimitsA13: CostsA14: Court-Appointed Legal RepresentativesA15: Custody Time LimitsA16: DisclosureA17: HearsayA18: Identification EvidenceA19: LegalaAidA20: Mental DisorderA21: Misbehaviour at CourtA22: Presence of Defendant in CourtA23: Pre-Charge HearingsA24: Remand PeriodsA25: Reporting RestrictionsA26: Sending and Transfer for TrialA27: Special Measures and Vulnerable WitnessesA28: Submission of No CaseA29: Transfer/Remittal of Criminal CasesA30: Video/Live LinksA31: Witnesses, Issue of Summons, or Warrant
Part B Youths in the Adult CourtB1: Age of Offender and the Position of Those Attaininga18B2: BailB3: Breach of Orders, and New Offences Committed during an OrderB4: Jurisdiction of the Adult Magistrates Court over YouthsB5: Managing the CaseB6: Remittal to the Youth Court for Trial/SentenceB7: Reporting RestrictionsB8: Sentencing
Part C OffencesC1: Animal OffencesC2: Breach OffencesC3: Administration of JusticeC4: Communication Network OffencesC5: Computer MisuseC6: Criminal DamageC7: DrugsC8: Harassment offencesC9: Immigration OffencesC10: Prison OffencesC11: Public OrderC12: Road Traffic Offences DefinitionsC13: Road Traffic OffencesC14: Sexual OffencesC15: Dishonesty and Offences Against PropertyC16: Offences Against the PersonC17: Weapons Offences
Part D SentencingD1: Alteration of SentenceD2: Banning Orders (Football)D3: Bind OverD4: Breach of Prison Licence Supervision; Return to CustodyD5: Committal for SentenceD6: Community OrdersD7: Compensation OrderD8: Confiscation: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002D9: Criminal Behaviour OrdersD10: Custodial SentencesD11: Dangerous OffendersD12: Deferment of SentenceD13: Deprivation OrderD14: Detention in Young Offender InstitutionD15: Discharges: Conditional and AbsoluteD16: Discounts for Early PleaD17: Disqualification from DrivingD19: Financial Orders: Priority for PaymentD20: FinesD21: Forfeiture OrderD22: Mental Health DisposalsD23: Newton HearingsD24: Offences Taken into Consideration (TICs) and the Totality PrincipleD25: Penalty Points for Driving OffencesD26: Minimum SentencesD27: Pre-Sentence ReportsD28: Prosecution CostsD29: Racially and Religiously Aggravated CrimesD30: Restraining OrderD32: Sexual Offences Notification RequirementsD33: Sexual Harm Prevention OrderD34: Sexual Orientation, Disability, or Transgender IdentityD35: Suspended SentencesD36: Time on Remand or Qualifying CurfewD37: Victim Surcharge Order
AppendicesAppendix 1: Preparation for Effective TrialAppendix 2: Extracts from the Criminal Procedure RulesAppendix 3: Fraud GuidelineAppendix 4: Bladed Articles and Offensive Weapons PossessionAppendix 5: Domestic Abuse: Definitive GuidelineAppendix 6: Rehabilitation PeriodsAppendix 7: Supplement to Blackstone's Handbook of Youths in the Criminal Courts (2018 edition)