The possible introduction of new specialist rape and serious sexual offence courtrooms in every crown court in England and Wales has shone a spotlight on how the justice system operates.
Under the proposals, each crown court will eventually have at least one dedicated courtroom for rape and sexual offence cases, alongside facilities such as private waiting rooms and separate entrances for victims.
But what courts already exist in Suffolk and what sort of offences do they deal with day to day?
Crown Court
For most people, the best-known court is the crown court.
Suffolk has a single crown court, Ipswich Crown Court, which our journalists report from daily.
Serious criminal offences such as murder, rape, robbery, large-scale drug trafficking and other indictable offences are heard there. It is also where defendants can be sentenced for offences committed to the crown court by magistrates and where appeals against magistrates' court decisions can be heard.
An indictable offence is an offence that is more serious than the lower summary or either-way offences which can be dealt with at magistrates' courts. Offences that are indictable only must be heard at a crown court.
Juries sit in crown court trials, with a judge overseeing proceedings and determining sentence where a defendant is convicted or pleads guilty.
The Government's latest plans would see Ipswich Crown Court eventually receive a specialist courtroom for rape and serious sexual offence cases.
Magistrates' Courts
Most criminal cases begin in a magistrates' court.
Suffolk's main magistrates' court is in Ipswich, with cases that would have previously been heard in Lowestoft now taking place at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court. These courts deal with summary of either-way offences such as shoplifting, common assault, traffic matters, public order offences and breaches of court orders.
Summary offences are less serious criminal offences that can only be tried in the magistrates' court, such as common assault, criminal damage under £5,000 or driving offences.
Either-way offences are a middle ground between the less serious summary offences and the more serious indictable offences. Examples of either-way offences are assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) or dangerous driving. These offences can be dealt with by either a magistrates' or crown court.
Magistrates' courts also conduct first hearings in more serious cases before those matters are sent to the crown court. Magistrates, who are usually trained volunteers, or district judges hear these cases without a jury.
Youth Court
Young people aged between 10 and 17 who are accused of criminal offences will usually appear before a Youth Court.
These hearings are generally held within magistrates' court buildings but are not open to the public in the same way as adult criminal courts. The process is designed to be less intimidating while maintaining accountability and public protection.
The emphasis is often on rehabilitation alongside punishment. However, young people charged with a serious offence can be tried and sentenced at a crown court.
Bona fide journalists are able to attend youth courts and report on the proceedings. However, the identities of young offenders are protected by Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.
Family Court
Family courts deal with matters including child protection, adoption, care proceedings, domestic abuse orders, parental disputes and arrangements for children following family breakdowns.
In Suffolk, family court hearings are commonly held at court venues in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.
Unlike most criminal hearings, many family court proceedings are held in private because of the sensitive issues and vulnerable people involved.
County Court
County courts deal primarily with civil disputes rather than criminal matters.
Typical cases include debt claims, contract disputes, landlord and tenant disagreements, housing possession claims and personal injury cases.
The county court for Suffolk is the Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre, which deals with both civil and family cases.
Someone might find themselves in county court after a business dispute, an unpaid debt or a disagreement over property rather than because they have been accused of a crime.
Journalists are entitled to attend county court hearings.
High Court
The high court is one of the senior courts of England and Wales and handles more complex civil cases.
While high court judges may sit at local courts in Suffolk, there is not a designated high court in the county. The majority of high court cases are heard in London at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Cases can involve major business disputes, judicial reviews challenging public bodies, negligence claims and matters of national importance.
Court of Appeal and Supreme Court
Above the crown court and high court sits the Court of Appeal, which reviews decisions made by lower courts.
At the top of the legal system is the UK Supreme Court, which hears a small number of cases involving issues of the greatest public or constitutional importance.
Few Suffolk residents will ever attend either court, but decisions made there can affect how laws are interpreted across the country.
Coroners' Court
Unlike criminal and civil courts, a coroners' court does not decide guilt or liability. Instead, it investigates deaths that are sudden, unexplained, violent, or occur in certain circumstances such as state detention.
In Suffolk, inquests are conducted at Suffolk Coroners' Court in Ipswich, and are led by the Senior Coroner for Suffolk. Coroners hear evidence from witnesses, medical professionals, police officers and experts to establish who the deceased was, and when, where and how they died.
In some cases, juries are used, particularly where a death occurred in custody or involved state agencies.
Journalists are entitled to attend coroners' court, and it is often a source of significant public interest stories, including road traffic fatalities, workplace deaths, deaths in prison or police custody, and cases involving mental health concerns.
Whether it is a motorist appearing before magistrates, a jury trial at Ipswich Crown Court or a family dispute being resolved behind closed doors, Suffolk's courts collectively deal with thousands of cases each year, forming the backbone of the justice system across the county.
Our journalists will continue to bring you all the latest from Suffolk's courts.
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