What happens at court, from charge to sentence

The court process is slow, full of strange words, and nobody explains it to families. Here is the journey in plain English, and what all the jargon means.

These rules cover England and Wales. In Scotland or Northern Ireland? Start here.

The two courts

Magistrates' court deals with less serious cases from start to finish, and is the first stop for every case. Sentences here are limited.
Crown Court deals with serious cases, with a judge and, for a trial, a jury. Many cases start in the magistrates' court and are "sent up" to the Crown Court.

The usual steps

First hearing at the magistrates' court, soon after charge. The court decides bail or remand, and where the case goes next.
Sent to the Crown Court for serious cases, where the first main hearing is the .
Reports, if the plea is guilty or after a guilty verdict. The judge often waits for a before sentencing.
The sentencing hearing, where the judge passes sentence. See our what to expect at a sentencing hearing guide.

Along the way there are often mention hearings (quick admin hearings) and adjournments (dates put off). Both are normal. Cases rarely run in a straight line.

The words you will hear

Word	What it means
Remand	Kept in prison while the case goes on. Full guide.
Bail	Allowed to wait at home, sometimes with conditions like a curfew or no-contact rule.
Plea	Saying guilty or not guilty to each charge.
Pre-con	Previous convictions, the person's record, which the court takes into account.
Basis of plea	A guilty plea, but only to a specific version of what happened. The court may hold a short hearing (a Newton hearing) if the two sides disagree on the facts.
PSR	Pre-sentence report, written by probation to help the judge decide the sentence.
Adjourned	The hearing is put off to another date.
Produced	The person is brought from prison to the court in person, rather than appearing by video link.
Mitigation	The reasons the defence gives for a lighter sentence.
Time served	A sentence already covered by time on remand, so no more prison to serve.

The sentencing day

If it is immediate prison, the person is taken down to the court cells there and then, and on to a prison, often the same day. There is no going home first. Our getting ready guide covers what to sort out beforehand, and the first 48 hours covers what happens next.

Worried about the length? The sentence estimator shows the likely range for the offence, and remember a "2 year" sentence is not 2 years inside: the release date calculator shows the real time, with remand taken off.

The official picture GOV.UK has a plain guide to how courts work. For anything about a real case, the solicitor is the person to ask.

Common questions

What is a mention hearing?

A short hearing to sort out the case rather than to decide it: things like dates, the plea, or a problem with the paperwork. It is a normal part of the process and usually quick. Nothing is decided about guilt or sentence at a mention.

What is a plea and trial preparation hearing (PTPH)?

The first main hearing in the Crown Court. The person enters their plea (guilty or not guilty). If guilty, the court moves towards sentencing, often after reports. If not guilty, the court sets a trial date and the steps to get ready for it.

What is a pre-sentence report, and why does it cause delays?

It is a report the probation service writes for the judge about the person and the offence, to help decide the sentence. The judge often adjourns (delays) sentencing so it can be done. If probation has not finished it in time, the case can be put off again, which is frustrating but common.

What does "adjourned" mean?

The hearing has been put off to another date. It happens a lot: for reports, for missing paperwork, for a barrister to be free, or for more time. It is not usually a bad sign, it is just how busy courts work.

Will they be taken to court for sentencing, or is it by video link?

Either. Many hearings, including some sentencing, now happen by video link from the prison. Others mean the person is taken to court ("produced"). The solicitor will know which is planned for a specific date.

How much of any sentence will they actually serve?

Much less than the number said in court, for most sentences. Time on remand comes off, and most people are released part-way through. Once you know the sentence, our release date calculator works out the likely release date.

Work out the release date