Being charged with an offence can be unsettling, but you don’t have to face it alone. One of the biggest concerns is how long it will take to go to court. While timelines vary, understanding the process can make it feel more manageable. Here’s what to expect and what might affect your wait.
What happens after you’re charged with an offence?
The process begins with the charge sheet or Notice of Criminal Charge, which outlines the offence and the court date and in certain circumstances whether you’ll remain in custody or on bail. If you’re kept in custody, you’ll usually appear in the magistrates’ court the next working day.
At the first hearing, less serious offences may be dealt with immediately either on the day or on one further court appearance. More complex and serious cases may be sent to the Crown Court. Around 90% of cases are handled by magistrates’ courts.
If your case goes to trial, the timeline depends on the court’s workload and the complexity of the case and how long it will last for. You may receive a trial date or an indication of when that trial will take place depending on whether the case is in the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court. Either way you should work with a solicitor to prepare your case, whether that is a defence for a trial before being hopefully being acquitted or whether it’s is gathering material together for mitigation for when you are to be sentenced.
How long after being charged does it take to go to court and reach a conclusion?
According to government statistics, it takes on average around 355 days from the offence date for a case to reach a conclusion in the Crown Court. Before Covid the average was 253 days, so it now takes on average a 100 plus days for cases to be concluded and another 178 days in court before a verdict is reached. Here’s how the data can be broken down:
Pre-court:
The median time from ‘offence to first listing’ has shown a consistent decline since its peak in Q3 2021, which reached 158 days. In the latest quarter, this time decreased by 6% compared to the previous year, from 124 days to 117 days.
At court:
The median time from the first listing at the magistrates’ courts to case completion at the Crown Court has also continued to decrease. The most recent estimate of 156 days marks a 9% reduction from the previous year (171 days), though it still remains significantly higher than pre-COVID levels (112 days in Q3 2019).
Crown court completion:
For defendants dealt with at the Crown Court, the median time from charge to case completion in Q3 2024 was 171 days. This represents a 4% decrease from the previous quarter (179 days) and a 7% drop from the previous year (183 days). However, it is still far above pre-2020 levels.
For trial cases:
For cases where a not guilty plea was entered, the median duration from charge to completion was 451 days. Although this is a slight decrease from the previous quarter (462 days), it remains close to the peak levels seen since 2021.
Guilty pleas:
For guilty pleas, the median duration from charge to completion was 170 days. This marks a 6% decrease from the previous quarter (180 days) and a 9% decrease from the previous year (186 days), though it still remains above levels observed prior to 2020.
What factors influence the court timeline?
No two criminal cases follow the exact same timeline. Some are resolved quickly, while others take months or even years to go to trial. The seriousness of the offence, court backlog, and whether the defendant pleads guilty or not guilty all play a crucial role in how long the process takes.
Nature of the offence
More serious crimes, for example, such as multi defendant drug or violent offences or complex fraud cases, take longer to process. Cases requiring extensive evidence, witness testimony, or expert reports add further delays. Less serious offences, such as minor theft or public disorder, are usually dealt with quickly, often within the magistrates’ court.
Case backlog
The number and type of of pending cases impacts wait times significantly. If courts are dealing with a high volume of cases, hearings and trials may be delayed. Backlogs have increased in recent years, particularly during and even post Covid meaning some cases take months, or even years, to reach court.
Defendant’s plea
If a defendant pleads guilty, sentencing can often happen immediately or within a few weeks. However, if they plead not guilty, the case proceeds to trial, which can take months to schedule due to the need for evidence gathering, witness coordination, and court availability.
Is the timeline different if you represent yourself in court?
Every year, thousands of people in the UK choose to represent themselves in court. This is usually because they can’t afford legal fees or simply prefer to speak on their own behalf. This would normally only be for more minor offences being dealt with in the Magistrates Court.
However, representing yourself doesn’t necessarily make the process any quicker. While you might save time by not working with a lawyer, court delays depend on many other factors, so the overall wait time is unlikely to change much. Sometimes being unrepresented can actually delay matters as the case may last longer.
Contact Us
If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges, it’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible. At Lawtons, we are here to guide you through every step of the process and make sure your rights are fully protected. Don’t face it alone—get in touch with us today and let our experienced team help you feel confident and supported throughout your case.
