Youth Justice System
Crown Court
Crown Courts deal with both adults and young people. The role of the Crown Court is to deal with the most serious criminal matters. These include:
- cases which are sent to the Crown Court from magistrates' courts or youth courts due to the seriousness of the offence – some offences, called 'indictable only', can only be tried in Crown Courts
- cases which are sent to the Crown Court because the offence for which the young person is being tried can be heard either in a magistrates' court or Crown Court
- cases which are sent to the Crown Court from magistrates' courts or youth courts for sentencing
- appeals against sentences given in magistrates' courts or youth courts.
Crown Court circuit judges and recorders hear trials and appeals and make decisions on sentences in Crown Courts.