The maximum sentencing powers of the Crown Court & Magistrates’ Court

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“he magistrates’ court has limited sentencing powers. The highest sentence a magistrates’ court can pass for a summary offence is 6 montths’ imprisonment (but only if the offence is one which permits such a sentence) and the maximum for a single either-way offence from 18 November 2024 is 12 months’ imprisonment. ”

On this page:

Maximum sentences for Summary Offences
Maximum sentences for Either-Way offences
Committal for sentence to the Crown Court
Maximum sentences for Indictable-only offences
Youth sentencing

Maximum Sentences

On this page you can read about the maximum sentencing powers available in the magistrates’ court, for summary and either-way offences, and in the Crown Court for ether-way and indictable offences.

In summary, the magistrates’ court has limited sentencing powers. The highest sentence a magistrates’ court can pass for a summary offence is 6 montths’ imprisonment (but only if the offence is one which permits such a sentence) and the maximum for a single either-way offence from 18 November 2024 is 12 months’ imprisonment. This will only apply to magistrates’ court convictions on or after 18 November 2024.

The Crown Court, by contrast, has far greater sentencing powers. The highest sentence a Crown Court can pass is a sentence of life imprisonment, but only for offences which carry a maximum sentence of life, such as murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, wounding/grievous bodily harm with intent, robbery, rape, human trafficking and a number of terrorism offences.