Sentencing

• What does the term 'sentencing' mean?

  Any punishment given to an offender who has been convicted
• Who is an adult offender?

  Anyone aged 21 years or older who has been convicted of an offence
• What are the four types of sentences?

  Imprisonment

  Community sentences

  Fines

  Discharges
• What is imprisonment?

  Where the defendant's behaviour is so serious that none of the other sentences will suffice. Offenders serve half of their sentence in prison and the other half on license in the community
• What is a community sentence?

  Where offenders are made to carry out between 40 and 300 hours of demanding work in the community or undergo treatment for issues like drug addiction
• What are fines?

  These are for less serious offences and the most common type of sentence. The amount depends on the severity of the crime
• What are discharges?

  Where the court feels that being brought in front of a judge/magistrate is enough punishment and the offender is released
• What are the two types of discharges?

  Absolute and conditional
• What is an absolute discharge?

  Where the offender is released with no conditions
• What is a conditional discharge?

  Where the offender is released but there are conditions set with it and if the offender commits another crime, the first crime will be taken into consideration if sentenced
• What is imprisonment also known as?

  A custodial sentence