Types of Sentencing

• custodial sentence (imprisonment) the sentencing act makes clear that the offence must be serious that only custody is justified.
• Mandatory life sentence - only for murder, the only sentence a judge impose is a life sentence.
• Discretionary life sentence - For other serious offence such a S18 OAPA, manslaughter, rape and robbery the maximum sentence is life imprisonment but the judge does not have to impose it.
• Fixed term sentence - this is where the judge can give you up to a fixed term. Each offence has its own fixed term e.g. assault has a fixed term of 6 months.
• Suspended sentence - this means the offender only goes to prison if he reoffends in a particular time frame.