The criminal courts
Information for defendants, witnesses and victims
What this chapter covers
- Overview of how the criminal courts work
A summary of the main offence categories, including which court will deal with the charge and whether there’ll be a jury trial - How criminal cases begin: Pleading guilty/not guilty, bail, and name suppression
The different steps and issues at the start of a criminal court case - Ways to stay out of court: Diversion and restorative justice
Alternative processes for dealing with criminal offending - Specialist courts
Alternative court pathways for working through specific situations, including alcohol and drugs, homelessness, Māori and Pasifika youth, family and sexual violence cases - The lead-up to the trial: Pre-trial processes
The key processes the courts use to manage cases and prepare for the trial - The trial
How criminal trials work, including how evidence is given, and your basic rights in the Bill of Rights Act - Sentencing: The judge’s decision about punishment
How judges make sentencing decisions, and the different types of sentences available - Appeals
Your rights to challenge a judge’s decision if you’ve been convicted of or sentenced for a crime - Victims
The rights of victims, and the support available to them through the court process - Juries
How the jury system works, including when you can be excused from jury service - The clean slate scheme
The right to keep minor criminal convictions a secret in some cases, like when you’re applying for jobs - Where to go for more support
Other information and resources
