How UK Court Sentencing Works
The criminal court system in England and Wales operates through two main tiers: Magistrates' Courts and Crown Courts. Magistrates' Courts handle the majority of criminal cases, including summary offences and some either-way offences, with cases heard by lay magistrates or district judges. Crown Courts deal with the most serious offences, where cases are tried before a judge and jury.
When a defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty, the court determines an appropriate sentence based on guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council. These guidelines take into account the severity of the offence, any aggravating or mitigating factors, and the defendant's prior record. Sentences can range from fines and community orders to custodial sentences.
Court Sentences UK aggregates publicly-available sentencing data from courts across the country. Our editorial team sources information from official court records, local news reports, and other open-access databases. Every record is reviewed for accuracy before publication. Browse the courts listed above to explore sentencing outcomes, or use the search to find a specific court.