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 was discontinued. From 15 May 2023, pronouncement wording became available only via the Pronouncement Builder (external link) on the Sentencing Council website.
Related guidance 5
Other guidance whose text is closest in subject to this document, found by similarity of wording rather than by citation.
- Latest edition of the Adult Court Bench Book (April 2025)2025-09-09
- Youth Court Bench Book and Pronouncement Builder2025-10-24
- Family Court Bench Book and Reference Cards2022-09-16
- Equal Treatment Bench Book: February 2026 update2026-02-26
- Update: Child Defendants in the Crown Court (formerly Youth Defendants in the Crown Court)2025-07-14