The Criminal Justice System

If a suspect is charged with a crime, they will be given a ‘charge sheet’. This sets out the details of the crime they are being charged with.

The police will decide if you:

• can be released from police custody until the court hearing - but you might have to follow certain rules, known as ‘bail’
• are kept in police custody until you’re taken to court for your hearing.

If someone is charged with a minor offence the case could be decided without going to court (‘single justice procedure’). If you get a single justice procedure notice you must respond within 21 days.

There is no standard timescale for charging an offender, but a victim can always expect to be told about the decision to charge or not to charge, and can ask for reasons.

Victims are entitled to:

• be informed if the suspect is to be prosecuted or not, or given an out of court disposal (such as a behavior contract or community work)
• ask for a review of the police or Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) decision not to prosecute.

Both police and the CPS operate their own victims Right to Review schemes. They are responsible for informing victims about their respective schemes. Find out more about the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme.

• Victims Guide - What happens when a case come to the CPS
• CPS South West
• Charging and Case Preparation (College of Policing)