The focus of this article is the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) which is now used to deal with the majority of cases in the magistrates’ courts. The SJP has been introduced as a way of saving time and money, and this is in line with crime control values as well as managerialist aims. Although there are benefits to the SJP, there are also significant concerns. Within this article, the issues that defendants may experience when entering a plea – the most important decision of the process from the defendant’s perspective – are discussed. Attention is also drawn to the additional barriers that vulnerable defendants are likely to experience, the current lack of support for them and the implications of this. Ultimately, it is argued that efficiency concerns are being prioritised over engagement and fairness concerns, and insufficient account has been taken the SJP and the impact it has on defendants’ experiences. Without this research, it is difficult to know how best to support defendants to engage in the process.