• An analysis of the offence
• An assessment of the offender
• An assessment of the risk of harm to the public
• An assessment of the likelihood of re-offending
• A proposal for sentence

These take up to three weeks to prepare, the report will give the court background information about the offender and make an assessment on the likelihood of the offender committing another offence. This assessment is arrived at by looking at the offender's previous convictions (if any), the circumstances in which the offence has been committed and any interventions probation can offer the court to reduce the likelihood of further offending taking place.

Fast Delivery Reports
Provides information to the courts on the same day or up to five working days to help speed up the sentencing process.  Similar, though less detailed to Standard Delivery Reports, these short reports are suitable where the circumstances of the offence are simple and where the court is considering a straightforward sentence.

Bail Information Reports
Help the Courts by providing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) with verified information.  This adds to their factual knowledge of the defendant.

For further details about the work of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - the national and independent prosecution service for England & Wales - visit
www.cps.gov.uk


Other relevant websites

The Court Service is an executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department (see below). Their main purpose is the delivery of justice. Covers policy, legislation and magistrates' courts.
www.courtservice.gov.uk

The Lord Chancellors Department's main role is to secure the efficient administration of justice in England and Wales.
www.lcd.gov.uk

For information about issues affecting magistrates visit
www.magistrates-association.org.uk
- the voice of the lay magistracy