Adult Court Bench Book and Pronouncement Builder
Updated April 2025
The Adult Court Bench Book (ACBB) provides guidance for magistrates who sit in the adult court dealing mainly with defendants aged 18 or over. It is used for reference at court and to support consistent training.
The Bench Book is supplemented by national sentencing guidelines, checklists and pronouncements, available via the Pronouncement Builder. These help magistrates undertake the task of decision making in a fair and structured manner. The Adult Court Pronouncement Builder assists magistrates to explain their decisions fully and clearly.
Please note: The PDF format of the ACPCs is being discontinued. From 15 May 2023, pronouncement wording will only be available via the Pronouncement Builder on the Sentencing Council website.