AC 2.3

• Types of sentences a court can issue

  • Mandatory sentences
  • Discretionary life sentences
  • Fixed-term sentences
  • Home detention curfew
  • Indeterminate (unspecified) sentences
  • Extended sentence
  • Suspended sentence
• Mandatory sentences


  Only sentence available for murder if over 18. Can range from a full life term to 15 years
• Discretionary life sentences


  Available for other serious offences, down to the discretion of judges
• Fixed-term sentences


  An automatic release after half the sentence is served. Only available if over 21 years of age
• Home detention curfew


  Early release from prison on curfew - Crime and Disorder Act 1998
• Indeterminate (unspecified) sentences


  For dangerous offenders for public protection
• Extended sentence


  Custodial sentence up to maximum for the crime followed by an extension period on licence
• Suspended sentence


  Of 28-51 weeks suspended for up to 2 years, only has to be served if offender commits further offences
• Community sentence for adults:

  May include a range of 12 requirements for offenders over the age of 18 

  • Curfew, unpaid work, drug treatments, supervision of a probation officer, anger management, parenting orders etc 
• Community sentence for Young offenders

  • Youth Rehabilitation Order- brought in by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 
  • Has a range of 18 requirements that can be attached to it 
  • Similar to community order for adults but tailored to their age group 
  • Education requirement, activity requirement, drug testing requirement, mental health requirement etc 
• What are the types of discharge:

  • Conditional
  • Absolute
• What is absolute discharge?

  No penalty is impose on the offender. The offender is free to go.
• What is Conditional discharge?

  Offender is free to go on the condition that they don’t reoffend within a specified time period set by the magistrate.
• Ways prison meets the aims of punishment:

  • Public protection - keeps offenders separate from society
  • Punish - offender is punished for their crime
• ways community sentences meet the aims of punishment:

  • break cycle of reoffending
  • rehabilitation programmes
  • reparations - have to do unpaid work
• How do fines meet aims of punishmen:

  • deterrence - deter people from committing crime through financial punishments
• How does discharge meet the aims of punishmen:

  • deterrence - gives people a fear of being legally dealt with by the legal system