Holly Lawton Unit 3
Unit 3 P5, M4
The Sentences Available for Specific Offences – There are many different
types of sentencing options available to both the magistrates and the crown
court However, the type of sentence depends solely on the seriousness of the
crime committed and which court the case goes to. In some cases the type of
court is already set.
Overall there are four different types of sentences available:
Custodial Sentences
Community Orders
Fines
Discharges
Custodial Sentences –A custodial sentence is the most serious punishment
that a court can impose. Custodial sentences range from a few weeks to life
imprisonment. They include
Mandatory and discretionary life sentences
Fixed-term sentences
Custody plus (short term sentence)
Suspended sentences
Custodial sentences are meant to be used only for serious offences. The criminal
justice Act 2003 says that the court must not pass a custodial sentence unless it
is of the opinion that the offence (or combination of offences): “was so serious
that neither a fine alone nor a community sentence can be justified”.
Mandatory Life Sentences – For murder the only sentence a judge can impose is
a life sentence. However, the judge is allowed to state the minimum number of
years’ imprisonment that the offender must serve before being eligible for
release on licence. This minimum term is now governed by the Criminal Justice
Act 2003. This gives judges clear starting points for the minimum period to be
ordered. The starting points range from a full life term down to 12 years.
Discretionary Life Sentences – For other serious offences such as offences under
s 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861the maximum sentence is life
imprisonment, but the judge does not have to impose it. The judge has discretion
in sentencing and can give any lesser sentence where appropriate. This can even
be a fine or a discharge.
Fixed-term Sentences – For other crimes, the length of the sentence will depend
on several factors, including the maximum sentence available for the particular
crime, the seriousness of the crime and the defendant’s previous record.
Imprisonment for a set number of months or years is called a ‘fixed-term
sentence’.
Custody Plus (Short Term Sentences) – A custody plus sentence Is one in which
the defendant has to stay in prison for 2-13 weeks and then has a six month
, Holly Lawton Unit 3
probation period. This means that the offender still has time in prison, but the
amount of time is reduced.
Suspended Sentences – A suspended sentence is one in which a sentence is
given but not served for a specific amount of time During this time if another
offence is committed the sentence is served immediately. However, if no other
offences are committed within that given period, the sentence is not served.
Community Orders – The Criminal Justice Act 2003 created one community
order under which the court can combine any requirements they think are
necessary. These requirements are:
An unpaid work requirement
An activity requirement
A programme requirement
A prohibited activity requirement
A curfew requirement
An exclusion requirement
A residence requirement
A mental health treatment requirement
A drug rehabilitation requirement
An alcohol treatment requirement
A supervision requirement
In the case where the offender is aged under 25, an attendance centre
requirement
The sentences can ‘mix and match’ requirements allowing them to fit the
restrictions and rehabilitation to the offender’s needs. The sentence is available
for offenders aged 16 and over.
Fines – This is the most common way of disposing of a case in the Magistrate’s
Court, where the maximum fine is £5000 for an individual offender. The
magistrate can impose a fine of up to £20,000 on businesses who have
committed offences under certain regulations, such as health and safety at work.
In the Crown Court only a small percentage of offenders are dealt with by way of
a fine.
Discharges – These may be either: a conditional discharge, or an absolute
discharge. A conditional discharge means that the court discharges an offender
on the condition that no further offence is committed during a set period of up to
three years. It is intended to be used where it is though that punishment is not
necessary. If an offender reoffends within the time limit, the court can them
impose another sentence in place of the original discharge, as well as imposing a
penalty for the new offence. Conditional discharges are widely used by
Magistrate’s Courts for first-time minor offenders. An absolute discharge means
that, effectively, no penalty is imposed. Such a penalty is likely to be used where
an offender is technically guilty but morally blameless. An example could be
where the tax disc on a vehicle has fallen to the floor – it is technically not being
displayed and an offence has been committed. So, in the unlikely situation of
Unit 3 P5, M4
The Sentences Available for Specific Offences – There are many different
types of sentencing options available to both the magistrates and the crown
court However, the type of sentence depends solely on the seriousness of the
crime committed and which court the case goes to. In some cases the type of
court is already set.
Overall there are four different types of sentences available:
Custodial Sentences
Community Orders
Fines
Discharges
Custodial Sentences –A custodial sentence is the most serious punishment
that a court can impose. Custodial sentences range from a few weeks to life
imprisonment. They include
Mandatory and discretionary life sentences
Fixed-term sentences
Custody plus (short term sentence)
Suspended sentences
Custodial sentences are meant to be used only for serious offences. The criminal
justice Act 2003 says that the court must not pass a custodial sentence unless it
is of the opinion that the offence (or combination of offences): “was so serious
that neither a fine alone nor a community sentence can be justified”.
Mandatory Life Sentences – For murder the only sentence a judge can impose is
a life sentence. However, the judge is allowed to state the minimum number of
years’ imprisonment that the offender must serve before being eligible for
release on licence. This minimum term is now governed by the Criminal Justice
Act 2003. This gives judges clear starting points for the minimum period to be
ordered. The starting points range from a full life term down to 12 years.
Discretionary Life Sentences – For other serious offences such as offences under
s 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861the maximum sentence is life
imprisonment, but the judge does not have to impose it. The judge has discretion
in sentencing and can give any lesser sentence where appropriate. This can even
be a fine or a discharge.
Fixed-term Sentences – For other crimes, the length of the sentence will depend
on several factors, including the maximum sentence available for the particular
crime, the seriousness of the crime and the defendant’s previous record.
Imprisonment for a set number of months or years is called a ‘fixed-term
sentence’.
Custody Plus (Short Term Sentences) – A custody plus sentence Is one in which
the defendant has to stay in prison for 2-13 weeks and then has a six month
, Holly Lawton Unit 3
probation period. This means that the offender still has time in prison, but the
amount of time is reduced.
Suspended Sentences – A suspended sentence is one in which a sentence is
given but not served for a specific amount of time During this time if another
offence is committed the sentence is served immediately. However, if no other
offences are committed within that given period, the sentence is not served.
Community Orders – The Criminal Justice Act 2003 created one community
order under which the court can combine any requirements they think are
necessary. These requirements are:
An unpaid work requirement
An activity requirement
A programme requirement
A prohibited activity requirement
A curfew requirement
An exclusion requirement
A residence requirement
A mental health treatment requirement
A drug rehabilitation requirement
An alcohol treatment requirement
A supervision requirement
In the case where the offender is aged under 25, an attendance centre
requirement
The sentences can ‘mix and match’ requirements allowing them to fit the
restrictions and rehabilitation to the offender’s needs. The sentence is available
for offenders aged 16 and over.
Fines – This is the most common way of disposing of a case in the Magistrate’s
Court, where the maximum fine is £5000 for an individual offender. The
magistrate can impose a fine of up to £20,000 on businesses who have
committed offences under certain regulations, such as health and safety at work.
In the Crown Court only a small percentage of offenders are dealt with by way of
a fine.
Discharges – These may be either: a conditional discharge, or an absolute
discharge. A conditional discharge means that the court discharges an offender
on the condition that no further offence is committed during a set period of up to
three years. It is intended to be used where it is though that punishment is not
necessary. If an offender reoffends within the time limit, the court can them
impose another sentence in place of the original discharge, as well as imposing a
penalty for the new offence. Conditional discharges are widely used by
Magistrate’s Courts for first-time minor offenders. An absolute discharge means
that, effectively, no penalty is imposed. Such a penalty is likely to be used where
an offender is technically guilty but morally blameless. An example could be
where the tax disc on a vehicle has fallen to the floor – it is technically not being
displayed and an offence has been committed. So, in the unlikely situation of
