Act of Parliament - A document which sets out legal rules and has normally been passed by both Houses of Parliament and agreed to by the monarch (this agreement is called Royal Assent). As Parliament is supreme, Acts of Parliament can largely make any law without limits.
Aggravating factor - A factor that makes an offence more serious. Aggravating factors can increase the severity or length of a sentence. Contrast mitigating factor.
Crown Court - A criminal court which tries cases by a judge and jury (subject to extremely narrow exceptions). It hears the most serious cases and those cases where a defendant chooses to have his case tried by a judge and jury where it is an either-way offence. It also hears appeals from the magistrates' courts.
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - The organisation that conducts the majority of prosecutions. It is separate from the police. It's head is the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) - The head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Either-way offence - An offence that may be tried either as a summary offence or an indictable offence. A magistrates' court will decide if the offence can be tried by magistrates or if it needs to be tried on indictment by the Crown Court before a judge and jury. The court will look at the severity of the offence and decide if it would have sufficient sentencing powers if the defendant was convicted. If the magistrates' court decides it can try the offence the defendant can still opt to be tried by a judge and jury in the Crown Court. Examples offences include theft and actual bodily harm (ABH).
Indictable only offence - An offence that can only be tried on indictment by the Crown Court before a judge and jury. They include the most serious offences, such as murder, manslaughter and rape.
Indictment - A formal document accusing one or more persons of committing an indictable offence.
Judicial Review - A legal procedure carried out by the High Court (Administrative Division) which reviews the way in which a decision made by a public body is made. The review does not look at the decision itself but looks at whether it was made in a legal way.
Legislation - a document containing legal rules, for example, an Act of Parliament.
Mitigating factor - A factor that makes an offence less serious. Mitigating factors can decrease the severity or length of a sentence. Contrast aggravating factor.
Parliament - The body that makes legislation (known as the legislature) in the United Kingdom. It is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch. It is the supreme source of power in the United Kingdom.
Public Body - A body which acts for the public benefit. All governmental bodies are public bodies.
Regulation - The process of creating, monitoring and enforcing rules in a certain field.
Indictment - A formal document accusing one or more persons of committing an indictable offence.
Judicial Review - A legal procedure carried out by the High Court (Administrative Division) which reviews the way in which a decision made by a public body is made. The review does not look at the decision itself but looks at whether it was made in a legal way.
Legislation - a document containing legal rules, for example, an Act of Parliament.
Mitigating factor - A factor that makes an offence less serious. Mitigating factors can decrease the severity or length of a sentence. Contrast aggravating factor.
Parliament - The body that makes legislation (known as the legislature) in the United Kingdom. It is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch. It is the supreme source of power in the United Kingdom.
Public Body - A body which acts for the public benefit. All governmental bodies are public bodies.
Regulation - The process of creating, monitoring and enforcing rules in a certain field.
Statute - An Act of Parliament.
Summary only offence - An offence that can only be tried in a magistrates' court. They include the least serious offences, such as assault and battery.
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