Our Criminal Ancestors is a public engagement project, led by the University of Hull in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, that encourages and supports people and communities to explore the criminal past of their own families, communities, towns and regions.  This website is a wonderful source for family historians and researchers.

https://ourcriminalancestors.org/category/getting-started/

The Assizes and Quarter-sessions.

Our Criminal Ancestors website gives an explanation of the different court systems, with links to archives and other great resources.

The Assizes was a regional court circuit held twice-yearly at Lent (March/April) and Trinity (July/August). They could also be held in winter if there were a large number of cases. Quarter-sessions were local courts usually held four times a year, which generally sat in the seat of the county or county borough. Trials were held before a justice of the peace, judge or recorder.  Read more about the Assizes and the Quarter-Sessions.