Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975

[F1 207 Detention of young offenders. S

(1) It shall not be competent to impose imprisonment on a person under 21 years of age.

(2) Subject to section 205(2) and (3) of this Act and to subsections (3) and (4) below a court may impose detention (whether by way of sentence or otherwise) on a person, who is not less than 16 but under 21 years of age, where but for subsection (1) above the court would have power to impose a period of imprisonment; and the period of detention imposed under this section on any person shall not exceed the maximum period of imprisonment which might otherwise have been imposed.

(3) The court shall not under subsection (2) above impose detention on a person unless it is of the opinion that no other method of dealing with him is appropriate; and the court shall state its reasons for that opinion, and, except in the case of the High Court, those reasons shall be entered in the record of proceedings.

(4) To enable the court to form an opinion under subsection (3) above, it shall obtain (from an officer of a local authority or otherwise) such information as it can about the offender’s circumstances; and it shall also take into account any information before it concerning the offender’s character and physical and mental condition.

[F2 (5) A sentence of detention imposed under this section shall be a sentence of detention in a young offenders institution.]

F3 (11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 207 substituted by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 62, SIF 39:1), s. 45(1), Sch. 6 para. 5 and S.I. 1983/1580 art. 3

F2 S. 207(5) substituted for s. 207(5)–(10) by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 124(1)

F3 S. 207(11) repealed (1.10.1993) by 1993 c. 9, s. 47(3), Sch. 7 Pt. I (with s. 47(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 2); S.I. 1993/2050, art. 3(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 207 extended by Contempt of Court Act 1981 (c. 49, SIF 39:3), s. 15(3)