VPRS 7377 Court of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Courts Police/Arrest Original Process Files [DESTROYED]

Courts of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Courts have the power to hear proceedings for summary or indictable offences which may be tried summarily - that is offences which are defined as summary offences and statutory offences which do not have to be tried on indictment. Such offences include drunkenness, offences against public order or safety, public health offences, traffic or parking offences, minor theft or damage, and minor assault, etc. Usually the prosecutor is not the Crown but a police officer, local council or citizen. Summary offences are tired without a jury, almost always at a single sitting. Penalties are generally specified for the offences, either in statutes or regulations, but the Court has a discretionary power in terms of sentencing.For many of the indictable offences relating to property, etc., value limits signify the extent of the jurisdiction of the Lower Court. In all indictable cases the defendant must consent to the hearing of the case summarily otherwise it will go to a higher Court to be heard by judge and jury.Some Commonwealth cases, especially those relating to minor Customs, Taxation, or Transport infringements may be tried summarily.

治安法院/裁判法院（Courts of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Courts）有权审理可依简易程序审讯的案件，此类案件涵盖两类：一是被明确界定为简易程序罪行的行为，二是无需依公诉程序审讯的法定罪行。此类罪行包括醉酒滋事、妨害公共秩序或安全罪、公共卫生类违法犯罪、交通或违例泊车违规、轻微盗窃或损毁财物行为、轻度袭击等。通常而言，检控方并非王室，而是警员、地方议会或公民个人。简易程序罪行的审理无需陪审团参与，且几乎均能单次开庭审结。此类罪行的刑罚一般由成文法或法规予以明确规定，但法院在量刑环节享有自由裁量权。对于诸多涉及财产等的可公诉罪行，涉案金额上限划定了下级法院的管辖权限范围。在所有可公诉案件中，被告人必须同意以简易程序审理该案，否则案件将移交至上级法院，由法官与陪审团共同审理。部分英联邦辖区内的案件，尤其是涉及小额海关、税务或交通违规的案件，可依简易程序进行审讯。