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Committal for sentence (Corporate Crime) meaning
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What does Committal for sentence (Corporate Crime) mean?
In practice, committal for sentence means a magistrates’ court sends a convicted defendant (including a corporate offender) to the Crown Court for sentencing because the magistrates consider their own powers or jurisdiction insufficient, or because statute requires the Crown Court to deal with disposal or ancillary orders. In England and Wales this power is now contained in the Sentencing Act 2020, which consolidates earlier provisions such as section 3 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. It is typically used after conviction of an either‑way offence in the magistrates’ court, or where the Crown Court must consider confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or make other orders (forfeiture, etc.). The Crown Court then sentences as if the offender had been convicted there, allowing appropriate credit.
Northern Ireland operates a broadly similar statutory regime, with magistrates committing to the Crown Court where their sentencing powers are inadequate.
Scotland uses a different terminology and structure: a sheriff may remit a case for sentence to the High Court of Justiciary where necessary; “committal for sentence” is not the usual label.
In Ireland, the District Court may send an accused forward for sentence to the Circuit Court on a guilty plea under...
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View the related Practice Notes about Committal for sentence (Corporate Crime)
PRACTICE NOTES
2024 key appellate judgments and forthcoming Supreme Court appeals—England and Wales (archived)
ARCHIVED : This archived Practice Note compiles major dispute resolution (DR) appeals and notable appellate rulings in general civil litigation in England and Wales from 2024 to date. It also highlights key forthcoming appeal matters (to support horizon scanning) together with reported judgments delivered in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Competition Appeal Tribunal, Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (the Privy Council), Court of Justice of the European Union (Court of Justice), and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Links are provided to the judgment and any bespoke News Analysis to aid understanding of the principles engaged and the impact of the decisions. It is not maintained and is offered for background use only. For details of key DR appeals from 2025 to date, see Practice Note: Dispute resolution: key appeal cases—2025 [Archived]. This Practice Note has two parts intended to help dispute resolution practitioners remain informed about developments in case law affecting their practice, or civil litigation procedure more generally: selected forthcoming...
21 May
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PRACTICE NOTES
CrimPR October 2021 update: key procedural changes on magistrates’ sentencing indications, open justice, allocation, evidence, restraining orders, appeal time limits and search warrants (England and Wales)
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is archived and not maintained. This Practice Note outlines the principal updates to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020, SI 2020/759 (CrimPR), introduced by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2021, SI 2021/849. The CrimPR prescribe the practice and procedure to be followed in all criminal courts in England and Wales. The 2021 amendments adjust procedures in the following areas: Management of cases in the magistrates’ court Sentence indications in the magistrates’ court Court‑held case information and its disclosure to lawyers and the public Committal of cases to the Crown Court where the defendant is absent Service of applications to vary restraining orders Time limit for appeals against conviction to the Crown Court Witness and expert evidence, and applications for search warrants These amendments came into force on 4 October 2021. For further analysis, see News Analysis: Changes to the CrimPR this autumn—Criminal Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2021. Indication of sentence...
21 May
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PRACTICE NOTES
Magistrates’ committal for sentence: powers, routes (including confiscation and dangerous offenders), recording requirements and Crown Court limits (England and Wales)
Summary of magistrates’ powers to commit Magistrates’ courts can impose custody only up to the relevant statutory maximum for a single offence. Refer to Practice Note: Sentences imposed following conviction. The magistrates’ court does, however, also retain wide-ranging authority to commit a defendant to the Crown Court to be sentenced...
21 May
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