Understanding Crown Courts
Crown Courts are the higher criminal courts in England and Wales, responsible for trying the most serious criminal offences. These include cases such as murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, and serious fraud, as well as appeals from Magistrates' Courts and some sentencing proceedings.
Each Crown Court sits with a judge and a jury of twelve members of the public. The judge directs the jury on matters of law, while the jury decides the facts of the case and delivers a verdict. If the defendant is found guilty, the judge determines the appropriate sentence based on sentencing guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council.
Crown Courts have the power to impose the full range of sentences available under UK law, including custodial sentences, community orders, fines, and suspended sentences. Sentences handed down in Crown Courts tend to be more severe than those in Magistrates' Courts, reflecting the seriousness of the offences tried.
Our database tracks sentencing outcomes from Crown Courts across the country, sourced from publicly-available court records and verified by our editorial team. Select a court above to browse its sentencing history.