Magistrates have to think very carefully before they
decide what to do – it’s a balancing act.

Sometimes they have to listen carefully to lots of people who come to court to tell the magistrates what they saw happen. Not all the versions they hear may be the same so the magistrates have to decide which one is the true story. This is really important, as it will help them to decide whether a person is guilty or not guilty.

They have to think very carefully about several things before they decide how to punish someone – how bad the crime was, how sorry the guilty person is, who else was involved, what the damage was and what the law says.

Can you think of a time when you had to weigh up a number of different choices? How did you decide what to do?

Welcome to the
Magistrates’ Association
youth website

Remember – not everyone
who appears in court has
committed a crime!