How do summary offences differ from indictable offences?

Summary offences are characterized as less serious crimes that are typically tried in lower courts, such as Local Courts, as opposed to the more serious offences known as indictable offences, which require proceedings in higher courts, such as District or Supreme Courts. The classification of offences into summary and indictable categories helps determine the legal processes, potential penalties, and the nature of trial involved.

In the context of summary offences, they generally result in lighter penalties, often including fines or short-term imprisonment, and are prosecuted more swiftly and straightforwardly than indictable offences. This structure allows the legal system to efficiently handle minor offences while reserving the more complex and serious cases for the higher courts.

In contrast, the other options contending for the difference between these two offence types illustrate aspects that can lead to misunderstandings regarding their definitions. For example, while it's true that not all summary offences can be tried without a jury, this is not exclusive to summary offences, as certain indictable offences can also be tried summarily under specific conditions. Likewise, the premise that indictable offences involve fines and that they always carry longer imprisonment than summary offences is not universally true, as penalties can vary widely within both categories and depend on specific circumstances of each case.