Insight into Spalding Magistrates Court

My name is Szymon Ratynski and I am a Spalding Grammar School student. As my work experience I chose to go to Maples Solicitors as I heard that here, I will be given the opportunity of going to the Court. Going to the Court has proved to be great fun as well as a great insight towards the life of Solicitors and the Magistrates. The cases were not as serious as murder but, some were assault or theft and was very interesting to me as I have always wondered what it is like in Court and to be honest I was not disappointed. The pressure and the worry is on everyone, especially the person being prosecuted as the atmosphere and procedure is very tense as they await for their sentence to be put to them.

The Procedure

As you enter the Magistrates Court there is a security check right at the entrance. If you possess a bag you will be asked to open it and show it to the security guard, and any coins or mobiles phones will be put in a tray. Then you will have to go through some sensors and if you BEEP, which you must hope not, then you will be searched. After this you sit down in the lobby and wait to be called in by someone. If you are just coming to watch and are not someone getting sentenced if the Court is already on you can go and enter quietly. Remember to bow to the Judge as that is very respectful.

When the defendant enters the Court room they will be sat on a small bench just in front of the Solicitors and the Magistrates The person will be prosecuted and the charges read out and if they have a solicitor, they will defend them. Of course a person guilty can represent themselves in Court if they want to.

If the defendant makes an early guilty plea this will usually end up with the sentence being less severe. I have really enjoyed my time in Court and I now know how everything runs. Now I know that this is the career I want to take on and become a solicitor. The best part in Court, in my opinion is when the solicitor of the defendant speaks as they have to point out the smallest details, because every detail can help the guilty decrease his sentence. In the Magistrates Court most sentences ended up with Community working hours and fines. I have also noticed that the bigger the persons wage the bigger the fine will be as different sums effect different people! Although the Solicitors can affect the sentence the Magistrates have the last say, so regardless of what you feel what the Magistrate says goes. In the near future I hope to end up in Court but not as a guilty person getting sentenced but, as a Defence Solicitor!

At the end the Defendant will be asked to go wait in the waiting room for the paper work to be done. They will then sign of some sheets and documents and go and serve the sentence and pay fines. They will be asked to return to Court after a certain time if they still have not paid the fines or completed e.g. Community hours. Some cases in the Court can be moved to a later date if the person charged is foreign and cannot speak English to an understandable level. As they will need the help of and interpreter.