NCTJ Court Reporting Exam With Verified
Solutions
What is the difference between court bail and police bail?
Court bail gives the person their liberty until their next court appearance. Police bail means they are
free to go but will be re-called for further questioning and for a decision on
whether to charge or not.
Give three examples of either-way offences.
Theft, sexual assault, GBH.
What is the difference between theft and robbery?
Robbery is theft by force or threat of force.
What is a surety?
A person who guarantees the defendant's appearance and agrees to forfeit a set sum of money if the
defendant absconds.
What is allocation?
Where magistrates hear about the alleged crime and decide if they can accept jurisdiction or if they
believe that their powers of punishment may be insufficient.
What is mitigation?
An explanation of why a person might have committed the crime.
What is committal for sentence?
When magistrates dealing with an either-way offence in a summary trial, send the case to the Crown
Court for sentencing.
What is a conditional discharge?
The court has not imposed or specified punishment, but if the offender commits another offence
within a given time, they are liable to be punished for the first offence as well as the subsequent
offence.
Which section of which act imposes automatic reporting restrictions for pre-trial hearings of summary
offences?
Section 8C of the Magistrates' Court Act 1980.
What can we report under Section 52A of the Crime of Disorder Act 1998?
Name of the court.
Names of the magistrates.
Name, age, address and occupation of the defendant.
Basic details of the charge.
Date/place to which hearing is adjourned.
Arrangements as to bail.
Whether legal aid is granted.
, What year was the Contempt of Court Act passed?
1981.
What type of offence is contempt of court?
A strict liability offence.
When does a case become active?
A person has been arrested.
An arrest warrant is issued.
A summons is issued.
When does a case cease to be active?
The arrested person is released without charge.
No arrest is made within 12 months of the issue of a warrant.
The case is discontinued.
The defendant is acquitted or sentenced.
He/she is found unfit to be tried.
Can we publish backgrounders during the period between verdict and sentence, and why?
Yes, because it's the judge who decides the sentence and judges are deemed to be above prejudice.
Give three examples why an individual might be refused court bail.
Fear of absconding, committing another offence or interfering with witnesses.
Conditions are often attached to court bail. Give four examples.
Not to contact witnesses/victims, regular reporting to the police, curfew, surety, tagging,
residency.
What is an indictable-only offence?
A serious offence which must go to Crown Court.
What is an either-way offence?
An offence which can be heard in either Magistrates or Crown Court.
Name the process that decides where an either-way offence will be heard.
A plea before venue.
What is a summary offence?
A minor offence with no rights to jury trial.
What is a summary trial?
A trial before magistrates for a low-level offence or an either-way offence where the person has
elected summary trial.
Do magistrates or juries decide guilt or innocence in summary trials?
Solutions
What is the difference between court bail and police bail?
Court bail gives the person their liberty until their next court appearance. Police bail means they are
free to go but will be re-called for further questioning and for a decision on
whether to charge or not.
Give three examples of either-way offences.
Theft, sexual assault, GBH.
What is the difference between theft and robbery?
Robbery is theft by force or threat of force.
What is a surety?
A person who guarantees the defendant's appearance and agrees to forfeit a set sum of money if the
defendant absconds.
What is allocation?
Where magistrates hear about the alleged crime and decide if they can accept jurisdiction or if they
believe that their powers of punishment may be insufficient.
What is mitigation?
An explanation of why a person might have committed the crime.
What is committal for sentence?
When magistrates dealing with an either-way offence in a summary trial, send the case to the Crown
Court for sentencing.
What is a conditional discharge?
The court has not imposed or specified punishment, but if the offender commits another offence
within a given time, they are liable to be punished for the first offence as well as the subsequent
offence.
Which section of which act imposes automatic reporting restrictions for pre-trial hearings of summary
offences?
Section 8C of the Magistrates' Court Act 1980.
What can we report under Section 52A of the Crime of Disorder Act 1998?
Name of the court.
Names of the magistrates.
Name, age, address and occupation of the defendant.
Basic details of the charge.
Date/place to which hearing is adjourned.
Arrangements as to bail.
Whether legal aid is granted.
, What year was the Contempt of Court Act passed?
1981.
What type of offence is contempt of court?
A strict liability offence.
When does a case become active?
A person has been arrested.
An arrest warrant is issued.
A summons is issued.
When does a case cease to be active?
The arrested person is released without charge.
No arrest is made within 12 months of the issue of a warrant.
The case is discontinued.
The defendant is acquitted or sentenced.
He/she is found unfit to be tried.
Can we publish backgrounders during the period between verdict and sentence, and why?
Yes, because it's the judge who decides the sentence and judges are deemed to be above prejudice.
Give three examples why an individual might be refused court bail.
Fear of absconding, committing another offence or interfering with witnesses.
Conditions are often attached to court bail. Give four examples.
Not to contact witnesses/victims, regular reporting to the police, curfew, surety, tagging,
residency.
What is an indictable-only offence?
A serious offence which must go to Crown Court.
What is an either-way offence?
An offence which can be heard in either Magistrates or Crown Court.
Name the process that decides where an either-way offence will be heard.
A plea before venue.
What is a summary offence?
A minor offence with no rights to jury trial.
What is a summary trial?
A trial before magistrates for a low-level offence or an either-way offence where the person has
elected summary trial.
Do magistrates or juries decide guilt or innocence in summary trials?
