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    • i. Walmgate Bar
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    • III. THE EYE OF YORK >
      • a. York Crown Court
      • b. Clifford's Tower
      • c. Debtors' Prison
      • d. Yorkshire Witches
    • iv. York Magistrates Court
    • v. Ouse Bridge
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    • VII. North Street (JOHN SNOW)
    • viii. St Leonard's Hospital
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York Crime Walk
  • Home
  • The Walk
    • i. Walmgate Bar
    • ii. St George's Churchyard
    • III. THE EYE OF YORK >
      • a. York Crown Court
      • b. Clifford's Tower
      • c. Debtors' Prison
      • d. Yorkshire Witches
    • iv. York Magistrates Court
    • v. Ouse Bridge
    • VI. North Street (Sex Work)
    • VII. North Street (JOHN SNOW)
    • viii. St Leonard's Hospital
    • ix. St Michael Le Belfrey
    • X. York Minster
  • The Map
  • About the Project
  • Walking Methods in Criminology
  • People
  • Partners
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Leave Us Some Feedback
York Crime Walk

IV. YORK MAGISTRATES COURT

York Magistrates Court was formerly known as Clifford Street Court of Justice and Police Headquarters. It was built in the 1890s, and is a Grade II listed building whose original fittings remain for the most part intact. All criminal cases begin at the Magistrates Court where they are heard by either a single legally trained district judge or two or three magistrates, who are upstanding members of the community, with no formal legal training. There is not a jury here, so the Magistrates usually handle cases known as ‘summary offences’ which include motoring offences, minor criminal damage, being drunk and disorderly as well as ‘indictable offences’. If there is a case to answer regarding indictable offences (i.e., rape or murder) then they will be committed to the Crown Court. It is interesting to note that 95% of all criminal cases heard in the UK begin at the Magistrates Court. It can also deal with some more serious offences including burglary or drugs offences. These cases are called ‘either way’ offences and can be heard either in a Magistrates Court or a Crown court.​
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​Department of Sociology
Wentworth College
University of York
Heslington, YO10 5DD
Picture
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