What next?
The court decides whether or not the defendant is guilty of the charge. There may be several court hearings that the defendant must attend. Failing to turn up (without good reason) is a criminal offence which is punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
If you have are awaiting a court hearing, before your first hearing you must:
- find out which court you have to go to. It may not be the same courtroom for each different hearing;
- make sure you know how to get to the court. Use the link on the right to visit the court service website and find the address of your local court. All courts are also listed in the phone book. You can phone the court to get directions and information on public transport. Your solicitor will also be able to give you directions to the court;
- if you are not sure how long it will take you to get there, try the journey out beforehand if you can; and
- speak to a solicitor to help you understand what is happening.