Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44)

Part 12 U.K. Sentencing

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 12 modified (28.3.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 183(4), 383 (as amended (1.4.2008) by The Offender Management Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/912), art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 23(2)(b)); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3 (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

C2 Pt. 12 (ss. 142-305) modified (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Sentencing) (Transitory Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/643), art. 3 (as amended (E.W.) (3.12.2012) by The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Consequential and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2824), regs. 1, 3(1) (with reg. 3(2)) and as amended (1.12.2020 immediately before the consolidation date (see 2020 c. 9, ss. 3, 5(2)(3) and 2020 c. 17, ss. 2, 416)) by Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Act 2020 (c. 9), s. 5(2)(3), Sch. 2 para. 139; S.I. 2012/1236, reg. 2)

Chapter 1 E+W General provisions about sentencing

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 Pt. 12 Ch. 1: power to amend conferred (30.11.2009) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 4(3), 153; S.I. 2009/3074, art. 2(d)

Matters to be taken into account in sentencing E+W

F1 142 Purposes of sentencing E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Prospective

F1 142A Purposes etc. of sentencing: offenders under 18 E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 143 Determining the seriousness of an offence E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 144 Reduction in sentences for guilty pleas E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 145 Increase in sentences for racial or religious aggravation E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 146 Increase in sentences for aggravation related to disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

General restrictions on community sentences E+W

F1 147 Meaning of “community sentence” etc. E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 148 Restrictions on imposing community sentences E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 149 Passing of community sentence on offender remanded in custody E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 150 Community sentence not available where sentence fixed by law etc. E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 150A Community order available only for offences punishable with imprisonment or for persistent offenders previously fined E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Prospective

F1 151 Community order or youth rehabilitation order for persistent offender previously fined E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

General restrictions on discretionary custodial sentences E+W

F1 152 General restrictions on imposing discretionary custodial sentences E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F1 153 Length of discretionary custodial sentences: general provision E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Prospective

General limit on magistrates' court’s power to impose imprisonment E+W

F1 154 General limit on magistrates' court’s power to impose imprisonment E+W

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Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 142-154 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

155 Consecutive terms of imprisonment E+W

(1) Section 133 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (consecutive terms of imprisonment) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), for [F2 “the words from “the longest” to “being imposed”] there is substituted “ 65 weeks ”.

(3) Subsection (2) is omitted.

(4) In subsection (3) for “the preceding subsections” there is substituted “ subsection (1) above ”.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 155(2) substituted (14.7.2022) by Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (c. 35), s. 51(4), Sch. 2 para. 19(2); S.I. 2022/816, regs. 1(2), 3(d)

Procedural requirements for imposing community sentences and discretionary custodial sentences E+W

F3 156 Pre-sentence reports and other requirements E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F3 157 Additional requirements in case of mentally disordered offender E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F3 158 Meaning of “pre-sentence report” E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Disclosure of pre-sentence reports etc E+W

F3 159 Disclosure of pre-sentence reports E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F3 160 Other reports of local probation boards , providers of probation services and members of youth offending teams E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Pre-sentence drug testing E+W

F3 161 Pre-sentence drug testing E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Surcharges E+W

F3 161A Court’s duty to order payment of surcharge E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F3 161B Amount of surcharge E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Fines E+W

F3 162 Powers to order statement as to offender’s financial circumstances E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F3 163 General power of Crown Court to fine offender convicted on indictment E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F3 164 Fixing of fines E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F3 165 Remission of fines E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Savings for power to mitigate etc E+W

F3 166 Savings for powers to mitigate sentences and deal appropriately with mentally disordered offenders E+W

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Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 156-166 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Sentencing and allocation guidelines E+W

167 The Sentencing Guidelines Council E+W

F4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F4 Ss. 167-173 repealed (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 178, 182, Sch. 23 Pt. 4 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. paras. 15, 22(b)

168 Sentencing Guidelines Council: supplementary provisions E+W

F5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F5 Ss. 167-173 repealed (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 178, 182, Sch. 23 Pt. 4 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. paras. 15, 22(b)

169 The Sentencing Advisory Panel E+W

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Textual Amendments

F6 Ss. 167-173 repealed (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 178, 182, Sch. 23 Pt. 4 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. paras. 15, 22(b)

170 Guidelines relating to sentencing and allocation E+W

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Textual Amendments

F7 Ss. 167-173 repealed (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 178, 182, Sch. 23 Pt. 4 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. paras. 15, 22(b)

171 Functions of Sentencing Advisory Panel in relation to guidelines E+W

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Textual Amendments

F8 Ss. 167-173 repealed (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 178, 182, Sch. 23 Pt. 4 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. paras. 15, 22(b)

172 Duty of court to have regard to sentencing guidelines E+W

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Textual Amendments

F9 Ss. 167-173 repealed (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 178, 182, Sch. 23 Pt. 4 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. paras. 15, 22(b) (with art. 7(2))

173 Annual report by Council E+W

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Textual Amendments

F10 Ss. 167-173 repealed (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 178, 182, Sch. 23 Pt. 4 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. paras. 15, 22(b)

Duty of court to explain sentence E+W

F11 174 Duty to give reasons for and to explain effect of sentence E+W

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Textual Amendments

F11 S. 174 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Publication of information by Secretary of State E+W

175 Duty to publish information about sentencing E+W

In section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53) (information for financial and other purposes) in subsection (1) before the “or” at the end of paragraph (a) there is inserted—

“(aa) enabling such persons to become aware of the relative effectiveness of different sentences—

(i) in preventing re-offending, and

(ii) in promoting public confidence in the criminal justice system;”.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 175 wholly in force at 4.4.2005, see s. 336(3) and S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 7 (subject to art. 2(2), Sch. 2)

Interpretation of Chapter E+W

F12 176 Interpretation of Chapter 1 E+W

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Textual Amendments

F12 Ss. 176-180 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with ss. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2