What Is the Single Justice Procedure (SJP)?
A guide to the Single Justice Procedure for minor criminal offences in England and Wales. How SJP notices work, what to do if you receive one, the 21-day deadline, and how courts decide cases on paper without a hearing.
The Single Justice Procedure (SJP) is a system used in Magistrates Courts in England and Wales to decide minor criminal cases on paper, without a hearing. A single magistrate, sitting with a legal adviser, reviews the prosecution's evidence and the defendant's written response, then decides the case in private.
SJP was introduced under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 to free up court time for more serious matters. It now handles around 800,000 cases a year — making it one of the busiest parts of the criminal justice system.
Quick facts
- Used for non-imprisonable summary offences only.
- You have 21 days from the date on the notice to respond.
- You can plead guilty by post, plead not guilty (forces a hearing), or ignore it.
- If you ignore the notice, the case may be decided in your absence.
- You cannot be sent to prison under SJP — penalties are limited to fines, points, and disqualifications.
Watching for an SJP listing? Set up a free CauseAlert SMS or email alert on your case reference and get notified the moment it appears on a magistrates court list.
Get AlertsWhich offences are dealt with under SJP?
SJP is reserved for minor, non-imprisonable summary offences where a custodial sentence is not available. The vast majority of SJP cases fall into a handful of categories.
Common SJP offences
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Road traffic | Speeding, driving without insurance, no MOT, failing to identify a driver, driving without a licence |
| TV licensing | Using a television without a valid TV licence |
| Truancy | Failing to ensure a child attends school regularly (s.444 Education Act 1996) |
| Fare evasion | Travelling on a train, tram, or bus without paying |
| Fishing | Fishing without a rod licence |
| DVLA / vehicle | Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) offences, no SORN declaration |
SJP cannot impose imprisonment
If your offence is potentially imprisonable — e.g. drink driving, common assault, or shoplifting from a list of certain higher-value items — it cannot be dealt with under SJP. You will be summoned to a normal Magistrates Court hearing.
What to do if you receive an SJP notice
- Read the notice carefully. The notice (officially called a 'Single Justice Procedure Notice') sets out the offence, the evidence, the date by which you must respond (21 days from the date of issue), and the case reference number you'll need for any correspondence.
- Decide your plea. You can plead guilty (case is decided on paper), plead not guilty (case is moved to a normal hearing in front of magistrates), or ignore the notice (case is decided in your absence — usually resulting in conviction and a higher fine).
- Submit your response within 21 days. Use the response form included with the notice or respond online via the link provided. Include any mitigation, financial information for fine calculation, or evidence in support of a not-guilty plea.
- Wait for the outcome. If you pleaded guilty or ignored the notice, you'll receive a written 'Notice of Result' by post stating the conviction, fine, points, and any disqualification. If you pleaded not guilty, you'll receive a date to attend a Magistrates Court hearing.
- Pay the fine or appeal. Fines must be paid by the deadline given. If you disagree with the verdict, you can apply to the court to set aside the conviction (within 21 days of receiving the result) or appeal to the Crown Court within 21 days.
How a magistrate decides an SJP case
A single magistrate, advised by a qualified legal adviser, reviews three things: the prosecution's evidence (typically a witness statement and supporting paperwork like camera evidence), any plea or representations from the defendant, and any guilty plea mitigation. There is no live hearing — the magistrate makes a decision in private at a designated SJP session.
If the magistrate decides the evidence is insufficient or that the case should be heard in open court, they can decline to deal with it under SJP and refer it to a normal Magistrates Court list. This happens in a small minority of cases.
Get notified when your case is listed.
CauseAlert tracks every SJP and Magistrates Court list across England and Wales. Free SMS and email alerts on your case reference.
Start free — 2 alerts includedWhere SJP cases are listed
SJP cases are published in two list types. The 'SJP Public List' is the standard public-facing list, published weekly. The 'SJP Press List' is a more detailed version, including defendant addresses, available only to accredited media.
You can browse current SJP lists on CauseAlert's magistrates court listings, which aggregate the published HMCTS data for every magistrates court in England and Wales.
SJP and reporting restrictions
SJP cases are heard in private but the results are public. Press can attend SJP hearings only with prior notification. The Press List contains additional information (full address) to allow media to verify identities and report accurately.
Frequently asked questions
What does SJP stand for in court?
SJP stands for Single Justice Procedure. It is a system used in Magistrates Courts in England and Wales to deal with minor non-imprisonable summary offences in writing, without a court hearing. A single magistrate, advised by a legal adviser, reviews the case papers in private and decides the outcome.
How long do you have to respond to an SJP notice?
You have 21 days from the date on the notice to submit your response. You can plead guilty, plead not guilty (which moves the case to an open court hearing), or ignore the notice (in which case the magistrate decides in your absence). Late responses may not be considered.
Can you go to prison under the Single Justice Procedure?
No. SJP can only be used for non-imprisonable summary offences. The maximum penalties available are fines, driving licence points, and disqualifications. If your offence carries a possible prison sentence, it must be heard at a normal Magistrates Court hearing rather than under SJP.
Is SJP a criminal conviction?
Yes. A guilty finding under SJP results in a criminal conviction and goes on your criminal record in the same way as any other Magistrates Court conviction. The conviction can affect insurance, employment, and other background checks. You can appeal to the Crown Court within 21 days of the result.
What happens if I ignore an SJP notice?
If you do not respond within 21 days, the magistrate is entitled to proceed in your absence. They will typically convict on the prosecution's evidence and impose a fine calculated on assumed income, which is usually higher than if you had pleaded and provided your real financial details. You can apply to set aside the conviction within 21 days of receiving the result.
Can I see SJP lists online?
Yes. SJP lists are published weekly via HM Courts & Tribunals Service. CauseAlert aggregates these lists for every magistrates court in England and Wales at https://www.causealert.com/magistrates-court-listings, with free email and SMS alerts on specific case references.
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Create free accountData sourced from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. Court information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Crown copyright.