Defendant Walkthrough - What position am I in?
What position am I in?
If the police have charged you with an offence, you will have to go to court. You may have already been on police bail while the Crown Prosecution Service decided what offence to charge you with.
You will be able to see a solicitor or legal representative privately in the police station, free of charge. You can also ask for the solicitor to be present during any police questioning. You may also be photographed and have your fingerprints taken.
The police will give you a charge sheet giving the details of the offence you are being charged with and when and where you must go to court. If bail is refused, you will be held in custody until your first court appearance This may be the first of many court appearances, not necessarily all in the same building.
You have the right to speak to a solicitor who will give you advice on what is happening throughout the process. The contacts in the FAQ section of this site will be able to give you advice on whether you need a solicitor, depending on the crimes you have been charged with.
A solicitor can be very useful, as they will be able to help you understand what is happening, what you are accused of, and what you need to do. They will also help you decide whether you should plead guilty or not guilty, speak on your behalf and defend you in court.
You may have already seen a solicitor or a legal representative when you were arrested. They are independent from the police, and may have been your own solicitor or the police station duty solicitor. You may want to keep the same solicitor to represent you throughout the court process.
You might prefer to choose your own solicitor. Your friends or family may be able to give you the name of a solicitor they have used, or you can get a list of ones in your area by using the contacts in the FAQ section of this site.
You might have to pay for your solicitor's services, or you may be able to get it paid for you. For more information on whether you will have to pay, ask your solicitor.