3ACommittal for sentence of dangerous adult offenders

1

This section applies where on the summary trial of a specified offence triable either way a person aged 18 or over is convicted of the offence.

2

If, in relation to the offence, it appears to the court that the criteria for the imposition of a sentence under section 225(3) or 227(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 would be met, the court must commit the offender in custody or on bail to the Crown Court for sentence in accordance with section 5(1) below.

3

Where the court commits a person under subsection (2) above, section 6 below (which enables a magistrates' court, where it commits a person under this section in respect of an offence, also to commit him to the Crown Court to be dealt with in respect of certain other offences) shall apply accordingly.

4

In reaching any decision under or taking any step contemplated by this section—

a

the court shall not be bound by any indication of sentence given in respect of the offence under section 20 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (procedure where summary trial appears more suitable); and

b

nothing the court does under this section may be challenged or be the subject of any appeal in any court on the ground that it is not consistent with an indication of sentence.

5

Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from committing F1an offender convicted of a specified offence to the Crown Court for sentence under section 3 above if the provisions of that section are satisfied.

6

In this section, references to a specified offence are to a specified offence within the meaning of section 224 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

3BCommittal for sentence on indication of guilty plea by child or young person

1

This section applies where—

a

a person aged under 18 appears or is brought before a magistrates' court (“the court”) on an information charging him with an offence mentioned in subsection (1) of section 91 below (“the offence”);

b

he or his representative indicates under section 24A or (as the case may be) 24B of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (child or young person to indicate intention as to plea in certain cases) that he would plead guilty if the offence were to proceed to trial; and

c

proceeding as if section 9(1) of that Act were complied with and he pleaded guilty under it, the court convicts him of the offence.

2

If the court is of the opinion that—

a

the offence; or

b

the combination of the offence and one or more offences associated with it,

was such that the Crown Court should, in the court’s opinion, have power to deal with the offender as if the provisions of section 91(3) below applied, the court may commit him in custody or on bail to the Crown Court for sentence in accordance with section 5A(1) below.

3

Where the court commits a person under subsection (2) above, section 6 below (which enables a magistrates' court, where it commits a person under this section in respect of an offence, also to commit him to the Crown Court to be dealt with in respect of certain other offences) shall apply accordingly.

3CCommittal for sentence of dangerous young offenders

1

This section applies where on the summary trial of a specified offence a person aged under 18 is convicted of the offence.

2

If, in relation to the offence, it appears to the court that the criteria for the imposition of a sentence under section 226(3) or 228(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 would be met, the court must commit the offender in custody or on bail to the Crown Court for sentence in accordance with section 5A(1) below.

3

Where the court commits a person under subsection (2) above, section 6 below (which enables a magistrates' court, where it commits a person under this section in respect of an offence, also to commit him to the Crown Court to be dealt with in respect of certain other offences) shall apply accordingly.

4

Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from committing a specified offence to the Crown Court for sentence under section 3B above if the provisions of that section are satisfied.

5

In this section, references to a specified offence are to a specified offence within the meaning of section 224 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

4ACommittal for sentence on indication of guilty plea by child or young person with related offences

1

This section applies where—

a

a person aged under 18 appears or brought before a magistrates' court (“the court”) on an information charging him with an offence mentioned in subsection (1) of section 91 below (“the offence”);

b

he or his representative indicates under section 24A or (as the case may be) 24B of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (child or young person to indicate intention as to plea in certain cases) that he would plead guilty if the offence were to proceed to trial; and

c

proceeding as if section 9(1) of that Act were complied with and he pleaded guilty under it, the court convicts him of the offence.

2

If the court has sent the offender to the Crown Court for trial for one or more related offences, that is to say one or more offences which, in its opinion, are related to the offence, it may commit him in custody or on bail to the Crown Court to be dealt with in respect of the offence in accordance with section 5A(1) below.

3

If the power conferred by subsection (2) above is not exercisable but the court is still to determine to, or to determine whether to, send the offender to the Crown Court for trial under section 51 or 51A of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 for one or more related offences—

a

it shall adjourn the proceedings relating to the offence until after it has made those determinations; and

b

if it sends the offender to the Crown Court for trial for one or more related offences, it may then exercise that power.

4

Where the court—

a

under subsection (2) above commits the offender to the Crown Court to be dealt with in respect of the offence; and

b

does not state that, in its opinion, it also has power so to commit him under section 3B(2) or, as the case may be, section 3C(2) above,

section 5A(1) below shall not apply unless he is convicted before the Crown Court of one or more of the related offences.

5

Where section 5A(1) below does not apply, the Crown Court may deal with the offender in respect of the offence in any way in which the magistrates' court could deal with him if it had just convicted him of the offence.

6

Where the court commits a person under subsection (2) above, section 6 below (which enables a magistrates' court, where it commits a person under this section in respect of an offence, also to commit him to the Crown Court to be dealt with in respect of certain other offences) shall apply accordingly.

7

Section 4(7) above applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.

5Power of Crown Court on committal for sentence under sections 3, 3A and 4

1

Where an offender is committed by a magistrates' court for sentence under section 3, 3A or 4 above, the Crown Court shall inquire into the circumstances of the case and may deal with the offender in any way in which it could deal with him if he had just been convicted of the offence on indictment before the court.

2

In relation to committals under section 4 above, subsection (1) above has effect subject to section 4(4) and (5) above.

3

Section 20A(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (which relates to the effect of an indication of sentence under section 20 of that Act) shall not apply in respect of any specified offence (within the meaning of section 224 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003)—

a

in respect of which the offender is committed under section 3A(2) above; or

b

in respect of which—

i

the offender is committed under section 4(2) above; and

ii

the court states under section 4(4) above that, in its opinion, it also has power to commit the offender under section 3A(2) above.

5APower of Crown Court on committal for sentence under sections 3B, 3C and 4A

1

Where an offender is committed by a magistrates' court for sentence under section 3B, 3C or 4A above, the Crown Court shall inquire into the circumstances of the case and may deal with the offender in any way in which it could deal with him if he had just been convicted of the offence on indictment before the court.

2

In relation to committals under section 4A above, subsection (1) above has effect subject to section 4A(4) and (5) above.