Fitness to Plead in the Magistrates Court

Introduction

The Magistrates and Crown Court each have unique fitness to plead regimes, the terminology and procedure are specific to the given court.

This webinar will focus on how to advise clients in the Magistrates Court on fitness to plead matters.

You will look at how to deal with defendants who are not able to participate in contested proceedings due to disability, as well the law and procedure involved from obtaining evidence through to sentence.

This webinar will also be of benefit to prosecutors trying to navigate their way through these complex cases whilst applying the Code for Crown Prosecutors and considering their obligations to witnesses and victims.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• The proper approach in a summary trial
• The evidence you need and who may commission it
• Powers on a finding of being ‘Not Fit’
• Setting aside a finding and continuing with a criminal trial
• Case management
• Help available to a defendant to participate in proceedings

This webinar was recorded on 16th January 2024