Solemn courts: generalS
3 Jurisdiction and powers of solemn courts.S
(1)The jurisdiction and powers of all courts of solemn jurisdiction, except so far as altered or modified by any enactment passed after the commencement of this Act, shall remain as at the commencement of this Act.
(2)Any crime or offence which is triable on indictment may be tried by the High Court sitting at any place in Scotland.
(3)The sheriff shall, without prejudice to any other or wider power conferred by statute, not be entitled, on the conviction on indictment of an accused, to pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding [F1five years].
(4)Subject to subsection (5) below, where under any enactment passed or made before 1st January 1988 (the date of commencement of section 58 of the M1Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1987) an offence is punishable on conviction on indictment by imprisonment for a term exceeding two years but the enactment either expressly or impliedly restricts the power of the sheriff to impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding two years, it shall be competent for the sheriff to impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding two but not exceeding [F2five years].
[F3(4A)Subject to subsection (5) below, where under any enactment passed or made after 1st January 1988 but before the commencement of section 13 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997 (increase in sentencing powers of sheriff courts) an offence is punishable on conviction on indictment for a term exceeding three years but the enactment either expressly or impliedly restricts the power of the sheriff to impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding three years, it shall be competent for the sheriff to impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding three but not exceeding five years.]
(5)Nothing in subsection (4) above shall authorise the imposition by the sheriff of a sentence in excess of the sentence specified by the enactment as the maximum sentence which may be imposed on conviction of the offence.
(6)Subject to any express exclusion contained in any enactment, it shall be lawful to indict in the sheriff court all crimes except murder, treason, rape [F4(whether at common law or under section 1(1) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9)), rape of a young child (under section 18 of that Act)] and breach of duty by magistrates.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 3(3) substituted (1.5.2004) by 1997 c. 48, ss. 13(1)(a), 65(2); S.S.I. 2004/176, art. 2, (with art. 3)
F2Words in s. 3(4) substituted (1.5.2004) by 1997 c. 48, ss. 13(1)(b), 65(2); S.S.I. 2004/176, art. 2, (with art. 3)
F3S. 3(4A) inserted (1.5.2004) by 1997 c. 48, ss. 13(1)(c), 65(2); S.S.I. 2004/176, art. 2, (with art. 3)
F4Words in s. 3(6) inserted (1.12.2010) by Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9), ss. 61, 62(2), Sch. 5 para. 2(2); S.S.I. 2010/413, art. 2, Sch.
Marginal Citations