This book presents courtroom-based research which unveils the largely hidden decisions and processes of the Irish District Court while also providing valuable insights into Irish policing priorities and practices.The numerous extracts of court proceedings which are interspersed throughout this book provide a detailed and nuanced picture of courtroom actors and practices and ensure readers acquire an in-depth understanding of sentencing decisions and practices. The book describes the increased presence of foreign defendants in the District Court and considers how this local court has adapted to deal with global citizens. The account illustrates that while penal institutions and practices are fashioned to fit the fabric of local societies, in the current era of movement and flux these institutions and practices are also shaped by exogenous forces such as migration, increased mobility and transnational crime.