A guide to the criminal process in England and Wales, from the start of criminal proceedings and the first court appearance of the accused, through to sentencing and appeal. This book covers the procedure in the magistrates' courts, the Crown Court and the criminal appeal courts. It also takes account of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2005.

The "A Practical Approach" series is the perfect partner for practice work. Each title focuses on one field of the law and provides a comprehensive overview of the subject together with clear, practical advice and tips on issues likely to arise in practice. The books are also an excellent resource for those new to the law, where the expert overview and clear layout promotes clarity and ease of understanding. Now in its eleventh edition, "A Practical Approach to Criminal Procedure" provides a clear and complete guide to the criminal process in England and Wales. It explains what happens before the accused appears in court, the way in which prosecutions are commenced, funding by the criminal defense service, and bail. It describes proceedings in the magistrates' court, including summary trial and committal for sentence, as well as the way in which the youth court operates. Committal and transfer for trial are clearly explained and the process by which serious offenses are sent direct to the Crown Court is also studied. Trial on indictment is discussed in detail, as are sentencing and appeals.;This new edition has been updated to incorporate the Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 and the impact of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

• PART 1 - INTRODUCTION
• 1. The Client
• 2. Setting the Scene
• 3. The Role of the Criminal Procedure Rules
• 4. Preliminaries to Court Appearance
• 5. Prosecutors
• 6. The Decision to Prosecute
• PART II - THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
• 7. Magistrates and Their Courts
• 8. Bail and Remands
• 9. Mode of Trial
• 10. Disclosure
• 11. Course of a Summary Trial
• 12. Trial of Juveniles
• 13. Committal for Sentence
• 14. Sending Cases to the Crown Court for Trial
• PART III - TRIAL ON INDICTMENT
• 15. The Crown Court
• 16. The Indictment
• 17. Pre-Trial Proceedings
• 18. Pleas
• 19. The Jury
• 20. Trials on Indictment Without a Jury
• 21. The Course of the Trial
• 22. The Verdict
• PART IV - SENTENCING
• 23. Procedure Before Sentencing
• 24. Determining the Sentence
• 25. Custodial Sentences
• 26. Sentences Other Than Custody
• PART V - APPEALS AND ANCILLARY MATTERS
• 27. Appeals from the Crown Court
• 28. Appeals from the Magistrates' Court
• 29. The European Dimension
• 30. Ancillary Financial Matters
• 31. Your Practice
• APPENDIX 1 - MODE OF TRIAL GUIDELINES (CONSOLIDATED PRACTICE DIRECTION V.51)
• APPENDIX 2 - CODE OF PRACTICE ON DISCLOSURE
• APPENDIX 3 - IMAGINARY BRIEF
• APPENDIX 4 - TRIAL PROCEDURE IN OUTLINE
• APPENDIX 5 - ESSENTIAL FORMS
• APPENDIX 6 - IMAGINARY BRIEF
• APPENDIX 7 - INTERNET SITES
• APPENDIX 8 - REVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES (THE AULD REPORT)

Probably the most authoritative textbook on Criminal Procedure available New Law Journal, 2006