Magistrates

The criteria are:

• 18-65
• Good health
• Live/work in the local justice area
• 6 personal qualities: Good character, understanding/communication,social awareness,Maturity/sound temprament. sound judgement, commitment/reliability

• An application is filled in by the applicant stating eligability, the 6 qualities and any convictions
• The Advisory Committee gives them case examples to assess them
• They do background checks- conflict or interest and any political persuasions
• Lord chancellor or the Secretary of state will appoint new Magistrates

• Inital: Roles and responsabilities, they visit young offenders and a prison
• Mentoring: More experienced Magistrate guides and supports
• Core: 4 key skills, self management, team work, judicial decisions (management and making)
• Consolidation: After 2 years knowledge is updated and they are given practical situations to check their understanding

They have max sentecing powers of 6 months, or two 6 month sentences and a £5000 fine

They here summary and either way offences and the preliminary hearings of indictable offences

Retirement: 70

Incapacity/misbehaviour

Failure to meet standards

Neglecting duties

Advantages:

• Low costs: They would need 1,000 more judges, this would cost £100 mil
• Public confidence: Base verdict on the facts
• Local Knowledge: They have good local knowledge on social issues
• Representative: Real life people with the experiences

Disadvantages:

• Inconsistencies: 26% ABH in Somerset, 14% in Devon given custodial setences
• Case Hardened: They are used to excuses so rarely listen to the defendant