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Criminal Justice Act 1991

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There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Criminal Justice Act 1991. Those changes will be listed when you open the content using the Table of Contents below. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Powers of Courts to deal with Offenders

    1. Custodial sentences

      1. 1. Restrictions on imposing custodial sentences.

      2. 2. Length of custodial sentences.

      3. 3. Procedural requirements for custodial sentences.

      4. 4. Additional requirements in the case of mentally disordered offenders.

      5. 5. Suspended and extended sentences of imprisonment.

    2. Community sentences

      1. 6. Restrictions on imposing community sentences.

      2. 7. Procedural requirements for community sentences.

    3. Probation and community service orders

      1. 8. Probation orders.

      2. 9. Additional requirements which may be included in such orders.

      3. 10. Community service orders.

      4. 11. Orders combining probation and community service.

    4. Curfew orders

      1. 12. Curfew orders.

      2. 13. Electronic monitoring of curfew orders.

    5. Orders: supplemental

      1. 14. Enforcement etc. of community orders.

      2. 15. Regulation of community orders.

      3. 16. Reciprocal enforcement of certain orders.

    6. Financial penalties

      1. 17. Increase of certain maxima.

      2. 18. Fixing of certain fines by reference to units.

      3. 19. Fixing of fines in other cases.

      4. 20. Statements as to offenders’ means.

      5. 20A. False statements as to financial circumstances.

    7. Financial penalties: supplemental

      1. 21. Remission of fines fixed under section 18.

      2. 22. Default in paying fines fixed under that section.

      3. 23. Default in other cases.

      4. 24. Recovery of fines etc. by deductions from income support.

    8. Miscellaneous

      1. 25. Committals for sentence.

      2. 26. Alteration of certain penalties.

      3. 27. Treatment of offenders under 1983 Act.

    9. Supplemental

      1. 28. Savings for mitigation and mentally disordered offenders.

      2. 29. Effect of previous convictions etc.

      3. 30. Rules, regulations and orders.

      4. 31. Interpretation of Part I.

  3. Part II Early Release of Prisoners

    1. Preliminary

      1. 32. The Parole Board.

    2. New arrangements for early release

      1. 33. Duty to release short-term and long-term prisoners.

      2. 33A. Duty to release prisoners: special cases.

      3. 34. Duty to release discretionary life prisoners.

      4. 34A. Power to release short-term prisoners on licence.

      5. 35. Power to release long-term and life prisoners.

      6. 36. Power to release prisoners on compassionate grounds.

      7. 37.Duration and conditions of licences.

      8. 37A. Curfew condition to be included in licence under section 34A.

    3. Misbehaviour after release

      1. 38. Breach of licence conditions by short-term prisoners.

      2. 38A. Breach of curfew condition.

      3. 39. Recall of long-term and life prisoners while on licence.

      4. 40. Convictions during currency of original sentences.

      5. 40A. Release on licence following return to prison.

    4. Remand time and additional days

      1. 41. Remand time to count towards time served.

      2. 42. Additional days for disciplinary offences.

    5. Special cases

      1. 43. Young offenders.

      2. 44. Extended sentences for sexual or violent offenders.

      3. 44A. Re-release of prisoners serving extended sentences.

      4. 45. Fine defaulters and contemnors.

      5. 46. Persons liable to removal from the United Kingdom.

      6. 47. Persons extradited to the United Kingdom.

      7. 48.Life prisoners transferred to England and Wales.

    6. Supplemental

      1. 49. Alteration by order of relevant proportions of sentences.

      2. 50. Transfer by order of certain functions to Board.

      3. 51. Interpretation of Part II.

  4. Part III Children and Young Persons

    1. Children’s evidence

      1. 52. Competence of children as witnesses.

      2. 53. Notices of transfer in certain cases involving children.

      3. 54. Video recordings of testimony from child witnesses.

      4. 55. Further amendments of enactments relating to children’s evidence.

    2. Responsibilities of parent or guardian

      1. 56. Attendance at court of parent or guardian.

      2. 57. Responsibility of parent or guardian for financial penalties.

      3. 58. Binding over of parent or guardian.

    3. Detention etc. pending trial

      1. 59. Detention at a police station.

      2. 60. Remands and committals to local authority accommodation.

      3. 61. Provision by local authorities of secure accommodation.

      4. 61A. Cost of secure accommodation.

      5. 62. Transitory provisions pending provision of secure accommodation.

    4. Young offenders

      1. 63. Custodial sentences under 1982 Act.

      2. 64. Custodial sentences under 1933 Act.

      3. 65. Supervision of young offenders after release.

      4. 66. Supervision orders.

      5. 67. Attendance centre orders.

    5. Miscellaneous

      1. 68. Persons aged 17 to be treated as young persons for certain purposes.

      2. 69. Non-appearance of persons aged 16 or 17: plea of guilty.

      3. 70. Renaming of juvenile courts etc.

      4. 71. Amendments to service law.

      5. 72. Repeal of certain provisions not brought in force.

  5. Part IV Provision of Services

    1. Probation services

      1. 73. Inspectors of probation.

      2. 74. Default power where probation committee fails to discharge statutory duty.

      3. 75. The inner London probation area.

    2. Court security

      1. 76. Provision of court security officers.

      2. 77. Powers and duties of court security officers.

      3. 78. Protection of court security officers.

      4. 79. Duties of responsible authorities.

    3. Prisoner escorts

      1. 80. Arrangements for the provision of prisoner escorts.

      2. 81. Monitoring etc. of prisoner escort arrangements.

      3. 82. Powers and duties of prisoner custody officers acting in pursuance of such arrangements.

      4. 83.Breaches of discipline by prisoners under escort.

    4. Contracted out prisons

      1. 84.Contracting out prisons etc.

      2. 85. Officers of contracted out prisons.

      3. 86. Powers and duties of prisoner custody officers employed at contracted out prisons.

      4. 86A.Power of prisoner custody officers to detain suspected offenders

      5. 86B.Powers of authorised persons to perform custodial duties

      6. 87. Consequential modifications of 1952 Act.

      7. 88. Intervention by the Secretary of State.

    5. Contracted out functions

      1. 88A. Contracted out functions at directly managed prisons.

    6. Supplemental

      1. 89. Certification of prisoner custody officers

      2. 90. Protection of prisoner custody officers.

      3. 91. Wrongful disclosure of information.

      4. 92. Interpretation of Part IV.

  6. Part V Financial and Other Provisions

    1. Cash limits

      1. 93. Cash limits for magistrates’ courts.

      2. 94. Cash limits for probation services.

    2. Miscellaneous

      1. 95. Information for financial and other purposes.

      2. 96. Grants out of money provided by Parliament.

      3. 97. Grants by probation committees.

  7. Part VI Supplemental

    1. 98. Expenses etc. under Act.

    2. 99. General interpretation.

    3. 100. Minor and consequential amendments.

    4. 101. Transitional provisions, savings and repeals.

    5. 102. Short title, commencement and extent.

  8. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Amendments of 1973 Act

      1. Part I Provisions Inserted as Sections 1A to 1C

        1. Discharge Absolute and conditional discharge. (1) Where a court by or before which a person...

      2. Part II Provisions Inserted as Schedule 1A

        1. Schedule 1A Additional Requirements in Probation Orders Requirements as to...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Enforcement etc. of Community Orders

      1. Part I Preliminary

        1. 1.(1) In this Schedule “relevant order” means any of the...

      2. Part II Breach of Requirement of Order

        1. Issue of summons or warrant

          1. 2.(1) If at any time while a relevant order is...

        2. Powers of magistrates’ court

          1. 3.(1) If it is proved to the satisfaction of a...

        3. Powers of Crown Court

          1. 4.(1) Where under paragraph 2 or by virtue of paragraph...

        4. Exclusions

          1. 5.(1) Without prejudice to paragraphs 7 and 8 below, an...

        5. Supplemental

          1. 6.(1) Any exercise by a court of its powers under...

          2. 6A.(1) Where a relevant order was made by a magistrates’...

      3. Part III Revocation of Order

        1. Revocation of order with or without re-sentencing

          1. 7.(1) This paragraph applies where a relevant order made by...

          2. 8.(1) This paragraph applies where— (a) a relevant order made...

          3. 8A.(1) This paragraph applies where a probation order is in...

        2. Revocation of order following custodial sentence

          1. 9.(1) This paragraph applies where— (a) an offender in respect...

          2. 10.Where by virtue of paragraph 9(2)(b) above an offender is...

        3. Supplemental

          1. 11.(1) On the making under this Part of this Schedule...

          2. 11A.Paragraph 6A above shall apply for the purposes of paragraphs...

          3. 11B.Where under this Part of this Schedule a relevant order...

      4. Part IV Amendment of Order

        1. Amendment by reason of change of residence

          1. 12.(1) This paragraph applies where, at any time while a...

        2. Amendment of requirements of probation or curfew order

          1. 13.(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 12 above,...

        3. Amendment of certain requirements of probation order

          1. 14.(1) Where the medical practitioner or other person by whom...

        4. Amendment of drug treatment and testing order

          1. 14A.(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 63(2), (7)...

        5. Extension of community service order

          1. 15.Where— (a) a community service order is in force in...

        6. Supplemental

          1. 16.No order may be made under paragraph 12 above, and...

          2. 17.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, where a court proposes...

          3. 18.(1) On the making under this Part of this Schedule...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Reciprocal Enforcement of Certain Orders

      1. Part I Transfer of Community Orders to Scotland or Northern Ireland

        1. Probation orders: Scotland

          1. 1.(1) Where a court considering the making of a probation...

        2. Probation orders: Northern Ireland

          1. 2.(1) Where a court considering the making of a probation...

        3. Community service orders: Scotland

          1. 3.(1) Where a court considering the making of a community...

        4. Community service orders: Northern Ireland

          1. 4.(1) Where a court considering the making of a community...

        5. Combination orders: Scotland

          1. 5.Paragraphs 1 and 3 above shall apply in relation to...

        6. General

          1. 6.(1) Where a community order is made or amended in...

      2. Part II Transfer of Corresponding Orders from Scotland

        1. Probation orders

          1. 7.(1) The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 shall be amended...

        2. Community service orders

          1. 8.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        3. Supervision requirements

          1. 9.Section 72 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (supervision...

      3. Part III Transfer of Probation Orders from Northern Ireland

        1. 10.(1) Where . . . a court in Northern Ireland...

        2. 11.(1) Where a probation order is made or amended in...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Increase of Certain Maxima

      1. Part I Substitution of Other Amounts

      2. Part II Substitution of Levels on Standard Scale

      3. Part III Substitution of Statutory Maximum

      4. Part IV Provisions Substituted for Schedule 6A to 1980 Act

        1. Schedule 6A Fines that may be Altered under Section 143...

      5. Part V Other Amendments

        1. 1.In section 27 of the 1973 Act (breach of requirement...

        2. 2.In section 97 of the 1980 Act (maximum fine for...

        3. 3.In section 12 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981...

        4. 4.In section 14 of that Act (maximum fine for contempt...

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      The Parole Board

      1. Status and capacity

        1. 1.(1) The Board shall not be regarded as the servant...

      2. Membership

        1. 2.(1) The Board shall consist of a chairman and not...

      3. Payments to members

        1. 3.(1) The Board may pay to each member such remuneration...

      4. Proceedings

        1. 4.(1) Subject to the provisions of section 32(5) of this...

      5. Staff

        1. 5.(1) The Board may appoint such number of employees as...

      6. Reports

        1. 6.(1) Employment with the Board shall be included among the...

      7. Financial provisions

        1. 7.(1) The Secretary of State shall pay to the Board—...

      8. Authentication of Board’s seal

        1. 8.The application of the seal of the Board shall be...

      9. Presumption of authenticity of documents issued by Board

        1. 9.Any document purporting to be an instrument issued by the...

      10. Accounts and audit

        1. 10.(1) It shall be the duty of the Board—

      11. Reports

        1. 11.The Board shall as soon as practicable after the end...

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      Notices of Transfer: Procedure in lieu of Committal

      1. Contents of notice of transfer

        1. 1.(1) A notice of transfer shall specify the proposed place...

      2. Remand

        1. 2.(1) If a magistrates’ court has remanded in custody a...

      3. Witnesses

        1. 3.For the purposes of the Criminal Procedure (Attendance of Witnesses)...

      4. Regulations

        1. 4.(1) The Attorney General— (a) shall by regulations make provision...

      5. Applications for dismissal

        1. 5.(1) Where a notice of transfer has been given, any...

      6. Reporting restrictions

        1. 6.(1) Except as provided by this paragraph, it shall not...

      7. Avoidance of delay

        1. 7.(1) Where a notice of transfer has been given in...

      8. Procedures for indictment of offenders

        1. 8.(1) In subsection (2) of section 2 of the Administration...

      9. Legal aid

        1. 9.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    7. SCHEDULE 7

    8. SCHEDULE 8

      Amendments for Treating Persons Aged 17 as Young Persons

      1. Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (c.12)

        1. 1.(1) Section 31 of the 1933 Act shall be renumbered...

      2. Prison Act 1952 (c.52)

        1. 2.In section 43(3) of the 1952 Act (remand centres, young...

      3. Children and Young Persons Act 1963 (c.37)

        1. 3.In section 29(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act...

      4. Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c.54)

        1. 4.(1) Section 29 of the 1969 Act shall be renumbered...

      5. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c.53)

        1. 5.In section 5(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974...

      6. Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c.43)

        1. 6.(1) Part I of the 1980 Act (criminal jurisdiction and...

    9. SCHEDULE 9

      Amendments to Service Law

      1. Army Act 1955 (c.18) and Air Force Act 1955 (c.19)

        1. 1.In section 71A of the Army Act 1955 and the...

        2. 2.In section 71AA of those Acts (young service offenders: custodial...

        3. 3.For subsection (2) of section 93 of those Acts (evidence...

        4. 4.In paragraph 10 of Schedule 5A to those Acts (civilian...

      2. Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c.53)

        1. 5.In section 43A of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (life...

        2. 6.In section 43AA of that Act (young service offenders: custodial...

        3. 7.For subsections (2) and (3) of section 60 of that...

        4. 8.In paragraph 10 of Schedule 4A to that Act (civilian...

    10. SCHEDULE 10

      Certification of Prisoner Custody Officers

      1. Preliminary

        1. 1.In this Schedule— “certificate” means a certificate under section 89...

      2. Issue of certificates

        1. 2.(1) Any person may apply to the Secretary of State...

      3. Suspension of certificate

        1. 3.(1) This paragraph applies where at any time—

      4. Revocation of certificate

        1. 4.Where at any time it appears to the Secretary of...

      5. False statements

        1. 5.If any person, for the purpose of obtaining a certificate...

    11. SCHEDULE 11

      Minor and Consequential Amendments

      1. Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (c.12)

        1. 1.In section 38(2) of the 1933 Act (false evidence by...

      2. Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c.80)

        1. 2.(1) Section 67 of the 1967 Act (remand time to...

      3. Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (c.19)

        1. 3.In section 10(2) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (appeal...

        2. 4.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. Civil Evidence Act 1968 (c.64)

        1. 5.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      5. Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54)

        1. 6.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 7.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        3. 8.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      6. Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971 (c.10)

        1. 9.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      7. Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (c.62)

        1. 10.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 11.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        3. 12.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        4. 13.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        5. 14.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        6. 15.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        7. 16.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        8. 17.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      8. Juries Act 1974 (c.23)

        1. 18.(1) In Schedule 1 to the Juries Act 1974, Group...

      9. Solicitors Act 1974 (c.47)

        1. 19.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      10. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c.53)

        1. 20.In section 1(4) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974...

      11. Bail Act 1976 (c.63)

        1. 21.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 22.(1) Paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to that Act (restrictions...

      12. Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980 (c.32)

        1. 23.In section 1(2) of the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain...

      13. Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c.43)

        1. 24.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 25.In section 20(2)(b) of that Act (procedure where summary trial...

        3. 26.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        4. 27.(1) In subsection (2) of section 143 of that Act...

        5. 28.In paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4 to that Act (maximum...

      14. Contempt of Court Act 1981 (c.49)

        1. 29.(1) Section 12(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981...

      15. Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c.48)

        1. 30.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 31.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        3. 32.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        4. 33.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        5. 34.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      16. Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 (c.47)

        1. 35.(1) In section 2 of the Repatriation of Prisoners Act...

      17. Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (c.23)

        1. 36.In section 22(11) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985...

      18. Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c.33)

        1. 37.In section 34 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (abolition...

      19. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c.53)

        1. 38.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      20. Extradition Act 1989 (c.33)

        1. 39.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      21. References to juvenile courts

        1. 40.(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 70(2) of...

      22. References to juvenile court panels

        1. 41.(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 70(2) of...

    12. SCHEDULE 12

      Transitional Provisions and Savings

      1. Custodial and community sentences

        1. 1.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 2.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        3. 3.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        4. 4.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      2. Community orders: supplemental

        1. 5.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      3. Financial penalties

        1. 6.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 6A.Section 17 of this Act shall not apply in relation...

      4. Increase of certain penalties

        1. 7.Neither of subsections (3) and (4) of section 26 of...

      5. Early release: general

        1. 8.(1) In this paragraph and paragraphs 9 to 11 below—...

        2. 9.(1) This paragraph applies where, in the case of an...

        3. 10.Prison rules made by virtue of section 42 of this...

      6. Early release of young persons detained under 1933 Act

        1. 11.In relation to an existing prisoner or licensee whose sentence...

      7. Early release of prisoners serving extended sentences

        1. 12.(1) In relation to an existing prisoner or licensee on...

      8. Early release of fine defaulters and contemnors

        1. 13.Part II of this Act shall apply in relation to...

      9. Responsibilities of parent or guardian

        1. 14.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      10. Remands and committals of children and young persons

        1. 15.(1) In this paragraph— “section 23” means section 23 of...

        2. 16.(1) Subsection (2)(a) of section 60 of this Act shall...

      11. Custodial sentences for young offenders

        1. 17.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 18.Section 64 of this Act shall not apply in any...

      12. Supervision of young offenders after release

        1. 19.Section 65 of this Act shall not apply in relation...

      13. Supervision orders

        1. 20.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      14. Attendance centre orders

        1. 21.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      15. Provisions for treating persons aged 17 as young persons

        1. 22.(1) Paragraphs 1, 3, 4 and 6 of Schedule 8...

      16. Renaming of juvenile courts etc.

        1. 23.In relation to any time before the commencement of section...

      17. Supplemental

        1. 24.For the purposes of this Schedule proceedings for an offence...

    13. SCHEDULE 13

      Repeals

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