A practical approach to criminal procedure - John Sprack

Formerly known as "Emmins on Criminal Procedure", this tenth edition provides a clear and practical 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 defence 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 offences are sent direct to the Crown Court is also studied. Trial on indictment is discussed in detail as are sentencing and appeals. The tenth edition contains a detailed analysis of the impact of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on criminal procedure as a whole. The book is divided into five parts, each covering the major elements of criminal procedure: preliminaries; the magistrates' court; the Crown Court; sentencing; and appeals. It is a useful reference for the busy practitioner and essential reading for students preparing for professional examinations.