NCTJ Court Reporting Exam With Complete
Questions and Answers
1). What is the difference between court bail and police bail?
Ans: Court bail gives the person their liberty until their next court appearance. Police
bail means they are free to go but will be re-called for further questioning and for a
decision on
whether to charge or not.
2). Give three examples of either-way offences.
Ans: Theft, sexual assault, GBH.
3). What is the difference between theft and robbery?
Ans: Robbery is theft by force or threat of force.
4). What is a surety?
Ans: A person who guarantees the defendant's appearance and agrees to forfeit a set
sum of money if the defendant absconds.
5). What is allocation?
Ans: Where magistrates hear about the alleged crime and decide if they can accept
jurisdiction or if they
believe that their powers of punishment may be insufficient.
6). What is mitigation?
Ans: An explanation of why a person might have committed the crime.
7). What is committal for sentence?
Ans: When magistrates dealing with an either-way offence in a summary trial, send the
case to the Crown Court for sentencing.
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, 8). What is a conditional discharge?
Ans: The court has not imposed or specified punishment, but if the offender commits
another offence within a given time, they are liable to be punished for the first offence as
well as the subsequent offence.
9). Which section of which act imposes automatic reporting restrictions for pre-trial hearings of
summary offences?
Ans: Section 8C of the Magistrates' Court Act 1980.
10). What can we report under section 52a of the crime of disorder act 1998?
Ans: Name of the court.
Names of the magistrates.
Name, age, address and occupation of the defendant.
Basic details of the charge.
Date/place to which hearing is adjourned.
Arrangements as to bail.
Whether legal aid is granted.
11). What year was the contempt of court act passed?
Ans: 1981.
12). What type of offence is contempt of court?
Ans: A strict liability offence.
13). When does a case become active?
Ans: A person has been arrested.
An arrest warrant is issued.
A summons is issued.
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Questions and Answers
1). What is the difference between court bail and police bail?
Ans: Court bail gives the person their liberty until their next court appearance. Police
bail means they are free to go but will be re-called for further questioning and for a
decision on
whether to charge or not.
2). Give three examples of either-way offences.
Ans: Theft, sexual assault, GBH.
3). What is the difference between theft and robbery?
Ans: Robbery is theft by force or threat of force.
4). What is a surety?
Ans: A person who guarantees the defendant's appearance and agrees to forfeit a set
sum of money if the defendant absconds.
5). What is allocation?
Ans: Where magistrates hear about the alleged crime and decide if they can accept
jurisdiction or if they
believe that their powers of punishment may be insufficient.
6). What is mitigation?
Ans: An explanation of why a person might have committed the crime.
7). What is committal for sentence?
Ans: When magistrates dealing with an either-way offence in a summary trial, send the
case to the Crown Court for sentencing.
PaperStoc.com Page 1 of 13
, 8). What is a conditional discharge?
Ans: The court has not imposed or specified punishment, but if the offender commits
another offence within a given time, they are liable to be punished for the first offence as
well as the subsequent offence.
9). Which section of which act imposes automatic reporting restrictions for pre-trial hearings of
summary offences?
Ans: Section 8C of the Magistrates' Court Act 1980.
10). What can we report under section 52a of the crime of disorder act 1998?
Ans: Name of the court.
Names of the magistrates.
Name, age, address and occupation of the defendant.
Basic details of the charge.
Date/place to which hearing is adjourned.
Arrangements as to bail.
Whether legal aid is granted.
11). What year was the contempt of court act passed?
Ans: 1981.
12). What type of offence is contempt of court?
Ans: A strict liability offence.
13). When does a case become active?
Ans: A person has been arrested.
An arrest warrant is issued.
A summons is issued.
PaperStoc.com Page 2 of 13
