Wildy s Handbook for Magistrates (previously
published as Blackstone s Handbook for Magistrates) is a
readable and comprehensive account of the work of
magistrates in England and Wales. It examines how
magistrates are appointed; what they are empowered to
do; how their courts are organised and operated; the
kinds of matters they deal with crimes such as theft and
assault, traffic offences and issues concerning children
and families; how they go about assessing evidence and
deciding what to accept as true; how they decide whether
defendants should be released on bail or kept in
custody; the sentences they may impose and how they
endeavour to make the punishment fit the crime. The book
also looks at how legal aid works, a subject of
continuing public and political concern. Last, but not
least, it gives a flavour of what life as a magistrate
is really like, touching on the pressures,
responsibilities and rewards of the work. This new
edition reflects the many changes introduced over recent
years. These include revisions to the procedure for
applying to become a magistrate and the training
requirements; the introduction of the Criminal Procedure
Rules, case management and other measures to reduce
delay; the landmark Courts Act 2003; amendments to the
Bail Act; and wholesale revision of the approach to
sentencing. The authors, one a deputy justices clerk,
the other a serving magistrate, bring two different, but
equally important, areas of experience and expertise to
the work and explain complicated concepts in a
straightforward manner, keeping legal jargon to a
minimum. For newly appointed magistrates; those thinking
about applying to become a magistrate; a reference for
more experienced magistrates, especially those
responsible for training new colleagues. Also of
interest to probation officers, social services
personnel, court legal advisers, the police, and the
Crown Prosecution Service.
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