Ambay Software partner with Cisco WebEx to provide web-based computer based training for the Sentencing Guidelines App upon Apple iPad.

Our free training sessions provide detailed demonstrations of using the Application within the context of a simulated Court Session include Assembly Room preparation. The Training session also allows Magistrates to ask or post questions for inclusion within the session.

What is a WebEx?

WebEx is a web-based conference service, so you can use it from any computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, or Solaris) – as well as your iPhone, BlackBerry, or any other Wi-Fi or 3G-enabled mobile device. There's no complicated installation. Participants don't need to be WebEx subscribers to join you online. You will simply click a link sent to you by the Course Administrator.

How to join a Webex Training Course

You can join a Webex Training course using any internet browser from your PC, Mac, iPad or smartphone. You can use our Training freephone number to participate in the training session or your computer headset and microphone – whichever you find more comfortable.

Once you’ve registered for a Training session, you will receive a link to the meeting well in-advance of the start time. You simply click that link a few minutes before the meeting and dial-in.

Course Synopsis 

The Training session includes the following topics:

1. Using the Offence Indexes
2. Using the PDF Guideline Viewer
3. Explanatory Material
4. Bench Books
5. Pronouncement Cards
6. Using Favourites and History
7. Adding your own documents via iTunes
8. Fines Calculator
9. Drink Drive Disqualification dates
10. Adjournments
11. Updates
12. Customisation & Setup
13. Open Q&A forum

Training sessions are limited to a maximum of 25 Magistrates allocated on a first come, first served basis. The course duration is approximately 1 hour.

Course Calendar

Once this first block of Training Session has been completed, we’ll be able to estimate how many sessions per month are needed to meet training requirements. The current Training Schedule is as follows:

Thursday 24th May 2012, 10:00 a.m.

Saturday 2nd June 2012, 10:00 a.m.

Thursday 7th June 2012, 10:00 a.m.

Saturday 16th June 2012, 10:00 a.m.

Thursday 21st June 2012, 10:00 a.m.

Register for a Training session by contacting us via our Contact page

Office Training

We do offer occasional face-to-face training sessions at our Offices in Leamington Spa and welcome Magistrates from outside the Warwickshire Bench. These are announced from time-to-time in our Support Forums.

MA Branch / Bench Training

By prior arrangement we are able to provide on-site training at a Bench location where you’re able to get together a group of 6 or more Magistrates. Contact us for more information via our Contact page. Travel and subsistence to be reimbursed at cost.

Join our Community Forums to get support, contribute ideas and help to influence the Sentencing Guidelines product roadmap.

We currently provide two communities for customer support:

Visit one of the Support Group buttons above.

If you’re not already a member, click on the Join button highlighted below.

Enter a Sign in name such as your first name/last name or an alias if you wish.

Enter your email address, and re-enter the same email address in the second field.

Check your time-zone and click Join.

You will then receive notification of your new membership by email in a few minutes. This will confirm your username (that you gave above) and a new password. Once you’ve signed-in to the site using these you can change your password from the Edit profile link shown below:

From the Edit Your Profile screen, click on the Sign-in Information tab, then click the Change Password link to create a new password.

We’re happy to announce the availability of Sentencing Guidelines for Microsoft® Windows XP and 7.

This provides all the facilities and tools of our Sentencing Guidelines Apple iTunes version, including the following features:

• Offence Indexes by A-Z, Page, Group and Act of Parliament.
• Pronouncements Cards for Adult, Family & Youth including Welsh.
• Bench Guides for Adult, Family and Youth.
• History and Favourites.
• Fines Calculator.
• Drink Drive Disqualification Calculator.
• Adjournments Calendar.
• Guideline Fines print-out.

Judicial Version

Sentencing Guidelines is updated regularly in line with changes made by The Sentencing Council and Judicial College. Current Judicial Version is Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines Update 6. Forthcoming Guidelines (Update 7, June 2012) are also shipped with the Application.

Sentencing Guidelines is licensed as follows:

• Magistrates License at £20.39 including VAT per Windows license.
• Advocate License at £354.00 including VAT per Windows License.

To purchase Sentencing Guidelines for Windows XP/7 please contact us for more information.

If you’re new to Sentencing Guidelines or just started using your iPad, you’re welcome to join an informal training session at our offices in Leamington Spa on Friday 23rd March 2012 between 10:00 a.m. and midday.

Please contact training@ambay.com or visit our Contact Page to request joining instructions.

Our training session is in small groups allowing you to ask any questions to get the most out of your tablet and Apps.

Subjects Covered

• Using your tablet:
• Basic iPad or Android Tablet navigation.
• Locking screen-rotation.
• Application Download and Updates, reinstalling your Apps.
• Portrait and Landscape operation.
• Sentencing Guidelines App:
• Using the Offence Viewer (PDF).
• Indexes of Offences.
• Preparing from your Court Listing.
• Favourites in detail.
• Fines Calculator.
• DDD.
• My Documents.
• Open forum for questions.

We’ve started development of our Microsoft® Windows version of the Sentencing Guidelines App intending to provide all of the same functions that are found in our Apple iPad version.

There are some obvious interface differences where we can provide Windows users with more App flexibility. For example, the Windows GUI allows us to open many Offence Guidelines at the same time, while making Fines Calc, Adjournments and DDD separate from the main indexing and “Favourite” tools.

Our target GUI and platform will target support for Windows Netbooks including screen resolutions as low as 1024x768. This provides a low-cost entry-point for users preferring a traditional Windows solution or requiring compliance within Government security policies.

We’re anticipating support for Windows 7 Tablet platforms will be available within this release.

Microsoft Windows 8 Metro

Our strategy for Microsoft Windows 8 will be by providing a Metro-style application managed within the Windows App Store.

Microsoft Windows 8 on Intel and ARM is expected for availability in Q4 2012.

Information Request

If you’re interested in receiving updates about our Microsoft Windows development programme, please drop us a note through our Contact Page on this site.

Sentencing Guidelines App is the complete Magistrates legal resource providing regular Judicial updates of material issued by the UK Sentencing Council. We provide regular free updates for new and updated Judicial guidelines, while listening closely to feature requests from our active Apple and Android Support Communities.

Sentencing Guidelines App supports Wingers and Chairman across Adult, Family and Youth Courts including all the Bench Books, Explanatory Material, Additional Guidelines while allowing the addition of Magistrates’ own documents and reference material into the Apple iPad App (planned for Android).

As a legal resource we’re extremely good value:

• Simonden Magistrates A5 Sentencing Guidelines costs £29.00 plus £4.99 for each update
• Thomson Reuters Sum & Substance; Criminal Procedure
• Blackstone’s Magistrates’ Court Handbook (£44.95)
• Banks on Sentence (£64.99).

An excellent alternative to using an electronic version of the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines or carrying your bulky A4 Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines folder is the condensed A5 version of the Guidelines.

An active Manchester-based Magistrate provides an excellent service with a personalised A5 folder with the current guidelines.

Regular updates are provided from-time-to-time as the Sentencing Council issues new Guidelines.

There is a £4.99 fee for each update with the current Update 5 Burglary Offences already delivered to their subscribers. Update 6 Drug Offences is expected to ship well in advance of the 27th February 2012 deadline for the next Definitive Guidelines update.

Adding your existing Bench Books can be done by reprinting and reducing to A5 via photocopier. Other notes and additional guidelines can also be photocopied and reduced for inclusion.

Image Credit: Simonsden.co.uk

An excellent alternative to using an electronic version of the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines or carrying your bulky A4 Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines folder is the condensed A5 version of the Guidelines.

An active Manchester-based Magistrate provides an excellent service with a personalised A5 folder with the current guidelines.

Regular updates are provided from-time-to-time as the Sentencing Council issues new Guidelines.

There is a £4.99 fee for each update with the current Update 5 Burglary Offences already delivered to their subscribers. Update 6 Drug Offences is expected to ship well in advance of the 27th February 2012 deadline for the next Definitive Guidelines update.

Adding your existing Bench Books can be done by reprinting and reducing to A5 via photocopier. Other notes and additional guidelines can also be photocopied and reduced for inclusion.

Image Credit: Simonsden.co.uk

All version of the Sentencing Guidelines app require iOS version 5.0 or later which can be upgraded using iTunes on your PC or Mac.

Connect your iPad to your PC or Mac, start iTunes, click on the iPad and click Check for Update.

The (current) latest release if Version 5.1 however, the App will still work with Version 5.0.1.

Reply to this support post if you need some assistance or help getting the upgrade to work.

These are the Offence index screens NOT correctly showing their related PDF offence guideline: