23: Non-Custodial Sentence Flashcards
What is NOT a community sent3ence?
a discharge
ABSOLUTE DISCHARGE = MAY grant to
any offender, whatever offence.
Conditional discharge = MAY grant to
any offender, whatever offence
Offender discharged on condition not to commit further offence during specified period (up to
3 years).
Offender who commits further offence under conditional discharge can be:
re-sentenced for original offence and later offence.
What is the sole condition for conditional discharge?
offender commit no further offence. NO OTHER CONDITION CAN BE INSERTED.
Max period for conditional discharge =
3 years
Breach conditional discharge = conviction of D of further offence. Court dealing with breach MAY
sentence D for for original offence it could have previously, but CC dealing with D conditionally discharged by Mags is limited to Mags powers.
Breach conditional discharge =
A Mags’ court MAY deal with breach conditional discharge imposed by different mags, but only:
with consent original mags.
BREACH OF CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE
Consequence of sentencing for original offence:
Sentencing for original offence terminates conditional discharge, but order for compensation/costs remains valid.
dOES the compensation/costs order remain valud if D is sentenced for original offence terminating the conditional discharge:?
yes
A discharge cannot be combined with
punitive measure
A confiscation order can be made on D who was discharged. Where D under 18 + conditionally discharged by Mags in indictment offence, and D now attained 18, courts can deal with him as if just convicted.
Where:
- Person received 2 or more youth cautions is convicted offence committed within 2 years of last caution; or
- Person received youth conditional caution followed by youth caution convicted within 2 years youth caution.
The court CANNOT
deal with offence by conditional discharge UNLESS exceptional circumstances with offence.
When cannot the court deal with offence by conditional discharge?
Where:
- Person received 2 or more youth cautions is convicted offence committed within 2 years of last caution; or
- Person received youth conditional caution followed by youth caution convicted within 2 years youth caution.
FINES AND SURCHARGE
Fines in CC = can impose fine on
D convicted on indictment.
What sentences cannot be combined with a fine?
Some sentences cannot be combined with fine, e.g. hospital order nor discharge when sentencing for single offence.
CC may impose fine or forfeit recognisance, CC may order:
- Allow time for payment
- Instalments
- In recognisance, discharging the recognisance/reducing it.
Duty of court to fix term in default = Where CC imposes fine/forfeits recognizance, court MUST
fix term of imprisonment or detention to be served if defaults (unless under 18)
Exception to the MANDATORY rule that court must fix term of imprisonment or detention in default of fine?
under 18
What happens if there is a failure for the court to fix a term in lieu of fine?
Failure to fix term does NOT invalidate fine. Term should relate to whole sum, NOT instalment.
Fines in Mags = Any amount fine. When set fine, may only fix term of imprisonment in default if either:
- offence punishable with imprisonment and appears D has sufficient means to pay immediately; or
- D unlikely remain long enough at address, so enforcement of fine likely impossible
Fines in Mags
Where someone convicted, Mags/CC MAY before sentencing, make
make “financial circumstances order”.
Financial circumstances order =
requires individual to give to court a statement of assets + financial circs. If D fails = liable on summary conviction to fine not exceeding level 3. Where D lies = fine not exceeding level 4.
DETERMINING FINE
Fine should reflect
what attribute?
seriousness of offence
DETERMINING FINE
Mitigation should preclude
preclude imposition of max fine.
What is wrong when imposign a fine?
. Imposition of fine “quite beyond” means of D is wrong.
What happens where D lacks means proportionate to pay the fine?
Where D lacks means proportionate, it is contrary to impose custodial sentence. Offence MUST have merited sentence immediate imprisonment. Where D = rich, contrary to impose custodial sentence instead. But fine can increase. Level of fine should be adjusted for D ability to pay.
When determining the fine, can the court assume someone other than offender will pay?
. Court should not assume someone other than offender will pay. Instalments require payment within reasonable time = norm 12 months but not max.
No restriction combining fines with imprisonment.
A community sentence includes:
community order or youth rehabilitation order.
Communithy order
REQUIREMENTS:
Imposed on offender OVER 18.
REQUIREMENT: cannot pass community sentence, unless offence was serious enough to warrant sentence.