The Magistrates' Court: An Introduction is a simple speedy summary. This fully revised Fifth Edition* takes account of the wide scale changes which have affected the work of Justices of the Peace and their courts in recent years. A unique handbookConsistently rated excellent by reviewersEspecially useful for newcomers to the topicA most useful introduction that can be used alongside other training materials or as an ideal self-study guide.Also includes a Timeline and an extensive Glossary of Words, Phrases, Acronyms and Abbreviations - the language of the system - which will be of particular use to people wishing to quickly get to grips with the terminology of the magistrates' courts. Reviews'This invaluable book...aims to inform and explain, and that it does admirably': The Magistrate'It is no small wonder that this excellent book has remained in print for two decades. It really is a benchmark book managing the basic concepts with a suitable level of detail radically re-written and updated for 2010': Phillip Taylor MBE & Elizabeth Taylor, Richmond Green ChambersTopics covered include:the history of the magistracy and its robust heritagethe modern-day magistrates' courtrecent changes in administration and powershow people become JPstheir training, development, mentoring and appraisalfundamental principals and tenetsthe key relationship between JPs and their legal adviserstrial in the magistrates' courtsummary justice, crime and anti-social behavioursentencing and connected itemsguidelines, advice and judicial oversightimportant rules and proceduresdiversity, equality, fairness and human rightsrelationship to the Crown Court (and other courts)magistrates and district judgesreasoned decision-makinglocation within the wider Criminal Justice Systemthe role of the Ministry of Justicethe role of HM Court Serviceadult courts, youth courts and family courtsroad traffic and other 'specialist' areascivil and 'non-police' mattersa range of 'everyday topics'sample proceduresopen justice, media reporting and public confidencekey committees, liaison arrangements and membership bodiesa wealth of further detail (but all 'uncluttered' by technical data).AuthorsBryan Gibson is editor-in-chief, Waterside Press. He is a barrister, former co-editor of Justice of the Peace and a regular contributor to specialist journals. He was for 25 years a justices' clerk and during much of that time an elected member of the Council of the Justices' Clerks' Society (and chair of its Criminal Law Committee). He is co-author (with Paul Cavadino) of The Criminal Justice System, author of The New Ministry of Justice, The New Home Office, and The Pocket A-Z of Criminal Justice (amongst many others). He has also written for The Guardian, The Stage and numerous journals including Justice of the Peace, The Independent Monitor, and Prison Journal.Mike Watkins is an experienced trainer of magistrates who has written materials for the Judicial Studies Board, Magistrates' Association and Universities of Birmingham and Cambridge.(* previous editions were titled Introduction to the Magistrates' Court)