Crown Courts

What are the sentencing powers of the Crown Court?

The Crown Court has extensive sentencing powers. Whereas the maximum sentence in the Magistrates' Court is 6 months imprisonment, the Crown Court is able to impose life sentences, indeterminate sentences and any other custodial sentence available in law. The Crown Court can also make hospital orders. In addition to these powers, the Crown Court can also sentence by way of community order, fine or even discharge. In short, the Crown Court has essentially the full range of sentencing powers open to it.

While there are some sentences which can only be passed by a Youth Court, any Crown Court judge has the power to sit as a District Judge and, in those circumstances, he can deal with offenders as if they were in the Youth Court.

The Crown Court also has available a range of ancillary and other orders, such as costs, compensation, restraining orders etc, much as in the Magistrates’ Court.

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