Bail and Remands Flashcards
When can Mags adjourn a summary trial?
Mags may adjourn summary trial at any time and any stage (before or after beginning of trial), even if only a single justice;
May adjourn at any stage before the case is sent to the CC for trial
Is it possible to challenge grant/refusal of adjournment by way of judicial review?
Yes, but DC will be slow to interfere w/ discretionary decision unless:
1) error of principle
2) error of law
3) plainly wrong
What are the exceptions on Mags (may) adjourning proceedings for an EW offence?
1) A first appeared in answer to a summons/requisition (as opposed to being brought before court in custody or appearing in answer to police bail)
2) ) has not been remanded at an earlier hearing
What happens if A is not remanded? (court procedure)
1) No need to fix date for next hearing at time of adjournment
2) A does not commit an offence if fails to appear at next date (although may be possible for AW to be issued / proceedings to be conducted in absentia)
What happens if A is remanded? (court procedure)
1) Adjournment date must be fixed as date to which remanded
2) A commits an offence if remanded on bail & fails w/o reasonable cause to surrender
What’s the period of remand in custody by Mags?
Max = 8 clear days (at a time)
A may be remanded repeatedly (only limit = Mags discretion to refuse adjournment if such would be against the interests of justice)
A is subject to max statutory custody time limits
What’s the period of remand on bail?
A may be remanded on bail for more than 8 clear days if both A & P agree to a longer period
Does the trial must commence before exprity of custody time limits? When is that?
Mags – start of trial = when court begins hearing evidence from P
CC – start of trial = when jury sworn
When does Mags has power to remand (grant bail or remand in custody)?
(1) When adjourning a case
(2) For the period of any remand for reports etc. after a summary conviction
(3) Where sent by Mags to CC for trial
(4) Where committed to CC for sentence
(5) Following conviction in Mags pending determination of appeal to CC/DC by way of case stated
Can Mags grant bail for murder cases?
No, only a CC judge can do this
So a person who appears in Mags charged w/ murder must be committed in custody to CC
CC judge must make decision about bail ASAP & within 48 hours (excl. w/ends and holidays) beginning with the day after the day on which the person appeared at Mags
- Bail will be granted only where court confident there is no significant risk that A will, if released on bail:
1) commit an offence that would / would be likely to cause physical or mental injury to others
In what situations may the CC grant bail?
CC may grant bail to any person:
(1) Sent in custody to CC for trial
(2) Given custodial sentence by Mags, now appealing sentence/conviction to CC
(3) In custody of CC pending disposal of their case (i.e. during any adjournment)
(4) Whose case = decided by CC, but is seeking JR / has applied to the court to state a case for the DC’s opinion
(5) Granted certificate from CC that their case is fit for appeal against sentence/conviction to CoA
(6) Remanded into custody by Mags following adjournment, if Mags certifies it heard full argument before refusing bail
To whom does the (Rebuttable) presumption in favour of bail applies?
Applies to persons:
(1) appearing before Mags or CC in course of / in connection with proceedings for an offence
(2) who’ve been convicted & whose case is adjourned for PSRs
(3) brought before court for alleged breach of community order requirement
To whom does the presumption in favour of bail NOT apply?
Where D has been convicted; e.g.:
(1) where D is appealing conviction/sentence
(2) where D committed to CC for sentence following conviction by Mags
(3) bail from police station (before charge); but following charge custody officer has duty to grant bail unless refusal can be justified on grounds similar a court refusing bail (FTS, CFO, IWW)
NB on indication of G plea at ‘plea before venue’ – normal practice = continue previous condition (whether bail or custody) despite what is expected
Can S get bail if charged with (attempted) murder / manslaughter / (attempted) rape (serious cases) ? Is there exceptions?
No bail for (attempted) murder / manslaughter / (attempted) rape if previous conviction for any of these.
Exception applies only to manslaughter if A received custodial sentence for that offence:
(1) not guilty by reason of insanity,
(2) cases where D was unfit to plead, and
(3) previous convictions in [other] EU MS which would have resulted in UK convictions under domestic law
What are the primary ground for refusing bail - (charged with / awaiting sentencing for) indictable offences?
Primary grounds (BA 1976, sch 1, part I, para 2) - the ‘Big 3’ bases
Court satisfied there are substantial grounds for believing (normal evidence rules don’t apply; e.g. relevant facts can be related second-hand by a PO) that D, if released on bail (whether or not subj to conds), would:
(1) fail to surrender to custody (FTS)
(2) commit a further offence (CFO), or
(3) interfere w/ witnesses (IWW) / obstruct course of justice
But only applies if real prospect of a custodial sentence; otherwise bail cannot be withheld on ‘big 3’ bases
What are the relevant factors CC will take into account when deciding the grounds (big 3) for refusing bail?
(1) Nature/seriousness of offence + probable method of dealing w/ offender
· If severe sentence likely upon conviction = more likely to abscond
(2) Character, antecedents, associations & community ties of A
· Prior convictions = custodial sentence more likely
o Especially if previous FTS in answer to bail [s 6]
· Associations = undesirable friends w/ criminal records
· Community ties = ease of absconding & how much A has to lose (only things in past – things which may happen in future irrelevant)
o Length of time at present address
o Partner?
o Dependent children?
o Employment – for how long?
o Mortgage / protected tenancy?
(3) A’s ‘record’ for having answered bail in the past
· Absconding in past = evidence of risk
(4) Strength of P’s evidence against A
· If certain conviction = more likely to abscond
· NB if borderline, court may run risk of A absconding rather than acquittal after long period of remand in custody (= unjust)
(5) If substantial grounds for believing A would commit offence while on bail, risk that A may cause physical/mental injury to anyone else
When there’s no prospect of custodial sentence, the big 3 do not apply. Are the any other grounds for (CC) withholding bail?
(1) Domestic violence – substantial grounds for believing A will commit offence causing physical/mental injury to an associated person (or fear thereof), e.g. (ex) spouses, (ex) civil partners, (ex) cohabitants, family members, etc.
(2) A already on bail for another offence when present offence committed
* EXCEPTION: 18+, hasn’t yet been convicted in current proceedings & no real prospect of custodial sentence
(3) Own protection (or welfare if child) — e.g. risk of public exacting retribution on D
(4) A already serving time for another offence
(5) Insufficient time for court to make a decision on bail (= may remand in custody for short period to enable necessary info to be obtained)
(6) A arrested for absconding in present proceedings, having been bailed (s 7)
* EXCEPTION: doesn’t apply if 18+, hasn’t yet been convicted in current proceedings & no real prospect of custodial sentence
(7) Class A drug-user cases
· (i) drug test evidence of drug in A’s body
· (ii) misuse of Class A drug constitutes/contributed to/motivated the offence; and
· (iii) A refuses to undergo (follow-up) assessment of dependency/propensity
· If yes, no bail — unless court confident that no significant risk of A committing offence on bail
What are the grounds for refusing bail for imprisonable Summary Offences or crim damage less than £5k (sch 1, part IA)?
(1) A previously granted bail & FTS in those proceedings & court thus believes would FTS again
▪ BUT doesn’t apply if 18+, hasn’t yet been convicted in current proceedings & no real prospect of custodial sentence
(2) A was on bail on date of current alleged offence & substantial grounds for believing that A would CFO whilst on bail
▪ BUT doesn’t apply if 18+, hasn’t yet been convicted in current proceedings & no real prospect of custodial sentence
(3) A arrested for absconding in present proceedings (s 7) & substantial grounds for believing that A would FTS, CFO or IWW (i.e. the para 2 ‘big 3’ grounds, above)
▪ BUT doesn’t apply if 18+, hasn’t yet been convicted in current proceedings & no real prospect of custodial sentence
(4) Domestic violence – substantial grounds for believing A will commit offence causing physical/mental injury to an associated person (or fear thereof), e.g. (ex) spouses, (ex) civil partners, (ex) cohabitants, etc.
(5) Own protection (or welfare if child)
(6) A already serving time for anor offence
(7) Insufficient time for court to make a decision on bail
(8) Class A drug-user cases, as for indictable offences
What are the grounds for refusing bail for non-imprisonable summary offences (sch 1, part II)?
(1) A is under 18 / has been convicted of an offence in present proceedings (often refusing to surrender to custody, s 6); and
▪ Has previously been granted bail & FTS in those proceedings, and
▪ Court believes A will FTS
(2) A is under 18 / has been convicted of an offence in these proceedings; and
▪ A has been arrested for absconding in present proceedings (s 7), and
▪ Substantial grounds for believing that A would FTS, CFO or IWW (‘big 3’)
(3) Own protection (or welfare if child)
(4) A already serving time for another offence
(5) A has been arrested for absconding in present proceedings (s 7) & substantial grounds for believing A will commit offence causing physical/mental injury to an associated person (or fear thereof), e.g. (ex) spouses, (ex) civil partners, (ex) cohabitants, family members, etc.
- ‘insufficient time’ for refusing bail to A charged with imprisonable offences do not apply where the offences non-imprisonable
What’s an unconditional bail? What happens if A Fails to Surrender?
Unconditional bail – A simply has to surrender to custody at date & time specified
FTS without reasonable cause is an offence under the BA 1976, s 6
A cannot be bailed on his own recognisance/surety (= may be required to provide other people to stand surety)
What’s a conditional bail?
S is released on bail and conditions may be imposed if necessary ((i.e. ‘real risk’))
· Court can impose any condition; but P (if it wants court to impose one) must specify condition & explain purpose
o To secure that the person:
▪ (1) does not FTS
▪ (2) does not CFO
▪ (3) does not IWW
▪ (4) is available for inquiries or a report to assist in sentencing
▪ (5) attends an interview with a legal representative
o OR
▪ (6) for own protection (or welfare if child)
Which conditions are commonly imposed on bail?
(1) condition of residence (A is to live/sleep at X address) – sometimes at a bail hostel
(2) condition of notifying changes of address to police
(3) condition of reporting to a local PS
(4) curfew
(5) not to enter a certain area / building / go within X distance of Y
(6) not to contact a V and/or W
(7) passport surrendered to police
(8) electronic monitoring (or ‘tagging’, often combined w/ curfew)
(9) 3P surety/sureties to secure A’s surrender to custody [NB this is sureties’ only responsibility]
(10) deposit by A of security to secure A’s surrender to custody
▪ Liable to forfeiture if A absconds
▪ 3P allowed to make asset available for A to use – however, no requirement to notify 3P if forfeited (b/c was given to A)
Can D/P make applications to vary/impose bail conditions? What are the time limits?
Yes - A or P may apply for conditions to be varied or (if bail originally granted unconditionally) imposed
Application made either to:
▪ (1) court which granted bail or,
▪ (2) if sent to CC for trial / committed for sentence, the CC
o Applicant must give advance notice to court + other party, explaining what is sought & why
o Application must be served at least 2 business days before any hearing at which applicant wants it considered if such hearing already due
o Court may determine w/o hearing if variation agreed to by the parties; but if a hearing = must be no later than 5th business day after application served
What’s the normal practice for making the 1st bail application at First Appearance (where the presumption applies)?
1) P presents objections (based upon the statutory reasons for rebutting presumption, above)
2) D presents arguments for (conditional/unconditional) bail
3) Court announces decision (onus on court to justify refusal)
NB:
· *Bail hearings can take place in public or in private
· *(As w/ applications to vary conds) formal rules of evidence don’t apply, but each party may adduce Ws to give evidence on voir dire form of oath
· *P will not normally reply to D’s application for bail; but has right to reply, if necessary to correct alleged misstatements of fact