Plain-English explainers
The words used in court statistics, explained simply, each with its official source. Start with how a case moves from charge to sentence.
Summary offence
The least serious kind of offence, dealt with only in a magistrates’ court.
Either-way offenceA middle-ranking offence that can be tried in a magistrates’ court or at the Crown Court.
Indictable-only offenceThe most serious offences, such as murder and rape, which must go to the Crown Court.
ChargeThe point at which a person is formally accused of a crime.
First hearingThe first time the case is listed in a magistrates’ court.
Remand (bail or custody)What happens to a defendant between hearings: released on bail, or held in custody.
Custody time limitThe maximum time a defendant can be held in custody before their trial starts.
Allocation (which court)How magistrates decide whether an either-way case stays with them or goes to the Crown Court.
Plea (guilty or not guilty)The defendant’s answer to the charge.
Effective trialA trial that goes ahead on the day it was listed.
Cracked trialA trial that doesn’t go ahead because the case ends on the day, usually because of a late guilty plea.
Ineffective trialA trial that can’t go ahead on the planned day and has to be listed again.
Vacated trialA trial taken out of the list before its date.
Sent to the Crown CourtWhen a case moves from the magistrates’ court to the Crown Court.
Open case (backlog)A case still waiting for a final result: what people mean by the court “backlog”.
Disposal (completed case)A case that has finished, with a final result for every offence and defendant.
SentencingHow the court decides the punishment after a guilty plea or a guilty verdict.
Immediate custodyA prison sentence that starts straight away (not suspended).
Conviction ratioConvictions in a year compared with prosecutions in the same year. It is not a conviction rate.
