Going To Court In WA For A Criminal Charge

Going to court for the first time? 

Going to court for a criminal charge can be daunting. If you’re found guilty, you could face serious penalties or even go to prison.

With the support of our criminal lawyers, you can navigate the minefield of going to court.

If you have been charged with a criminal offence, you will need to attend court, where you can either:

• Seek an adjournment 
• Plead guilty to the charge(s)
• Plead not guilty to the charge(s)

Here’s what you can expect depending on what you choose to do in court. 

If you seek an adjournment

If you seek an adjournment, your charge will be put off to a later date. You can then decide whether you want another adjournment or whether you want to enter a plea.

All charges will have hearings in the Magistrates Court at first.

Depending on what the charge is, it may need to be transferred to the District Court or the Supreme Court later in the proceedings for a trial or for sentencing.

If you plead guilty to a criminal charge

If you plead guilty, you will be sentenced, either on that same day or on a later date if reports are required, or if the matter is required to be heard in a higher court.

If you plead not guilty to a criminal charge

If you plead not guilty, your matter will be listed for a trial to be heard at a late date, either in the same court or in a higher court if required.

You will ultimately need to decide whether you are going to plead guilty or not guilty to the charge. Depending on what the charge is, you can choose to see all the evidence against you before making a decision.

You should speak to your criminal lawyer about what will happen in court for your specific charge.

How can our criminal lawyers assist you with your charges?

Our experienced defence lawyers at Chambers Legal can:

• Advise you of your rights
• Apply for a spent conviction your behalf so that a conviction does not come up on your police clearance
• Negotiate with the prosecution to withdraw or downgrade your charge
• Assist you with an appeal

We can also represent you:

• For a bail application
• At sentencing if you are pleading guilty
• At trial if you are pleading not guilty

We can appear in all Western Australian Courts, both metropolitan and country. If your matter is being heard outside of the Perth Metropolitan area, we can travel to you to appear in person or appear via an audio or video link, where allowed.