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North Strathclyde Community Justice AuthorityNorth Strathclyde Community Justice Authority
Strengthening Community Justice Together

 

What Is?

Glossary S

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Sentence
The punishment that is imposed on a final judgement of guilty in a criminal case.
Sheriff
A Sheriff acts as a judge in one of the 49 Sheriff Courts in Scotland. They deal with a variety of civil and criminal cases leading to a sentence of up to three years.
Sheriff Court
There are certain offences which cannot be heard in the District Court but must go to the Sheriff Court.  The Sheriff Courts are the next level in the Court hierarchy and are managed collectively by the Scottish Court Service.
Social Enquiry Report (SER)
When a Sheriff or judge wants to know more about an accused person, they will ask for a Social Enquiry Report. If a person is going to jail for the first time, the Court must have a social enquiry report.
Solemn procedure
All serious crimes in Scotland are prosecuted under solemn procedure. This means a judge and jury try you. If a case is dealt with in the High Court then it is always under solemn procedure. Cases in the Sheriff Court can be tried by either solemn or summary.
Solicitor
Member of the legal profession chiefly concerned with advising clients and preparing their cases and representing them in some Courts. May also act as advocates before certain Courts or tribunals.
Stand
Enclosure in criminal Court for the defendant on trial.
Supervised Attendance Order (SAO)
A fine on an offender's time which is used for constructive activity.
Statement
A written account by a witness of the facts of details of a matter.
Statutory instrument
A document issued by the delegated authority (usually a Government Minister or committee) named within an act of parliament which affects the workings of the original Act.
Statutory law
Laws that have evolved through time and have been enacted by Parliament, e.g. road traffic offences, licensing offences, etc.
Stipendiary Magistrate
A legally qualified and salaried magistrate now called a District Judge.
Summary procedure
In contrast to solemn procedure, more minor crimes are tried in front of a judge sitting alone. The judge in this instance decides on both the facts and the law.
Summing-up
A review of the evidence and directions as to the law by a judge, immediately before a jury retires to consider its verdict.
Summons
Order to appear or to produce evidence to a Court.
Summons (jury)
Order to attend for jury service.
Summons (witness)
Order to appear as a witness at a hearing.
Supervised Release Order (SRO)
Imposed when an offender is sentenced to a prison term of more than 12 months, but less than four years, and is considered to pose a risk to the public after their release.
Surety
A person's undertaking to be liable for another's non-attendance at Court.
Suspended Sentence
A custodial sentence which will not take effect unless there is another offence within a specified period.
Suspect
A person who is being investigated in relation to a particular offence or offences.