Without prejudice to any powers exercisable by a court under the last foregoing section, where a person is charged before a court with an offence punishable with imprisonment, and the court is satisfied that he did the act or made the omission charged but is of opinion that an inquiry ought to be made into his physical or mental condition before the method of dealing with him is determined, the court shall remand him in custody or on bail for such period or periods, no single period exceeding three weeks, as the court thinks necessary to enable a medical examination and report to be made.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F60

F76Subject to subsection (1A) below, where a person is convicted of an offence (other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law), the court, if it is of opinion having regard to the circumstances, including the nature of the offence and the character of the offender F77and having obtained a report as to the circumstances and character of the offender, that it is expedient to do so, may instead of sentencing him make a probation order, that is to say an order requiring the offender to be under supervision for a period to be specified in the order of not less than F78six months nor more than three years.

A court shall not make a probation order under subsection (1) above unless it is satisfied that suitable arrangements for the supervision of the offender can be made

A probation order shall be as nearly as may be in the form prescribed by Act of Adjournal, and shall name the local authority area in which the offender resides or is to reside and the order shall make provision for the offender to be under the supervision of an officer of the local authority of that area, or, where the offender resides or is to reside in a local authority area in which the court has no jurisdiction the court shall name the appropriate court (being such a court as could have been named in any amendment of the order in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act) in the area of residence or intended residence, and the court last mentioned shall require the local authority for that area to arrange for the offender to be under the supervision of an officer of that authority.

Subject to the provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act relating to probationers who change their residence, an offender in respect of whom a probation order is made shall be required to be under the supervision of an officer of the local authority as aforesaid.

Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above, where a court is considering making a probation order it may include in the probation order, in addition to any other requirement, a requirement that the offender shall pay compensation either in a lump sum or by instalments for any personal injury, loss or damage caused (whether directly or indirectly) by the acts which constituted the offence; and the following provisions of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 shall apply to such a requirement as if any reference in them to a compensation order included a reference to a requirement to pay compensation under this subsection—

• section 58(2) and (3);

• section 59 (except the proviso to subsection (1) and subsection (2));

• section 60;

• section 62;

• section 64 (except paragraph (a));

• section 67.

Before making a probation order, the court shall explain to the offender in ordinary language the effect of the order (including any additional requirements proposed to be inserted therein under subsection (4) F89or (5)(5A), (5B) or (5C) of this section or under the next following section) and that if he fails to comply therewith or commits another offence during the probation period he will be liable to be sentenced for the original offence and the court shall not make the order unless the offender expresses his willingness to comply with the requirements thereof.

The clerk of the court by which a probation order is made or of the appropriate court, as the case may be, shall cause copies thereof to be given to the officer of the local authority who is to supervise the probationer, to the probationer, and to the person in charge of any institution or place in which the probationer is required to reside under the probation order.

F62Subject to subsection (1A) below, where a person is convicted of an offence (other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law), the court, if it is of opinion having regard to the circumstances, including the nature of the offence and the character of the offender F63and having obtained a report as to the circumstances and character of the offender, that it is expedient to do so, may instead of sentencing him make a probation order, that is to say an order requiring the offender to be under supervision for a period to be specified in the order of not less than F64six months nor more than three years.

A court shall not make a probation order under subsection (1) above unless it is satisfied that suitable arrangements for the supervision of the offender can be made

A probation order shall be as nearly as may be in the form prescribed by Act of Adjournal, and shall name the local authority area in which the offender resides or is to reside and the order shall make provision for the offender to be under the supervision of an officer of the local authority of that area, or, where the offender resides or is to reside in a local authority area in which the court has no jurisdiction the court shall name the appropriate court (being such a court as could have been named in any amendment of the order in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act) in the area of residence or intended residence, and the court last mentioned shall require the local authority for that area to arrange for the offender to be under the supervision of an officer of that authority.

Subject to the provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act relating to probationers who change their residence, an offender in respect of whom a probation order is made shall be required to be under the supervision of an officer of the local authority as aforesaid.

Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above, where a court is considering making a probation order it may include in the probation order, in addition to any other requirement, a requirement that the offender shall pay compensation either in a lump sum or by instalments for any personal injury, loss or damage caused (whether directly or indirectly) by the acts which constituted the offence; and the following provisions of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 shall apply to such a requirement as if any reference in them to a compensation order included a reference to a requirement to pay compensation under this subsection—

• section 58(2) and (3);

• section 59 (except the proviso to subsection (1) and subsection (2));

• section 60;

• section 62;

• section 64 (except paragraph (a));

• section 67.

Before making a probation order, the court shall explain to the offender in ordinary language the effect of the order (including any additional requirements proposed to be inserted therein under subsection (4) F75or (5)(5A), (5B) or (5C) of this section or under the next following section) and that if he fails to comply therewith or commits another offence during the probation period he will be liable to be sentenced for the original offence and the court shall not make the order unless the offender expresses his willingness to comply with the requirements thereof.

The clerk of the court by which a probation order is made or of the appropriate court, as the case may be, shall cause copies thereof to be given to the officer of the local authority who is to supervise the probationer, to the probationer, and to the person in charge of any institution or place in which the probationer is required to reside under the probation order.

Where the court is satisfied, on the evidence of a registered medical practitioner approved for the purposes of F90section 20 or 39 of the M6Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984, that the mental condition of an offender is such as requires and may be susceptible to treatment but is not such as to warrant his detention in pursuance of a hospital order under F90Part VI of that Act, or under this Act, the court may, if it makes a probation order, include therein a requirement that the offender shall submit, for such period not extending beyond 12 months from the date of the requirement as may be specified therein, to treatment by or under the direction of a registered medical practitioner with a view to the improvement of the offender’s mental condition.

A court shall not make a probation order containing such a requirement as aforesaid unless it is satisfied that arrangements have been made for the treatment intended to be specified in the order, and, if the offender is to be treated as a resident patient, for his reception.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F92

Arrangements made under subsection (5) of this section may provide for the probationer to receive his treatment (in whole or in part) as a resident patient in an institution or place notwithstanding that it is not one which could have been specified in that behalf in the probation order.

Subsections (2), (3) and (4) of section 176 of this Act shall apply for the purposes of this section as if for the reference in the said subsection (2) to section 175(1)(a) of this Act there were substituted a reference to subsection (1) of this section.

Except as provided by this section, a court shall not make a probation order requiring a probationer to submit to treatment for his mental condition.

The provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect in relation to the discharge and amendment of probation orders.

Where, under section 186 of this Act, a probationer is sentenced for the offence for which he was placed on probation, the probation order shall cease to have effect.

for the purposes of subsection (2) above, evidence of one witness shall be sufficient evidence.

A fine imposed under this section in respect of a failure to comply with the requirements of a probation order shall be deemed for the purposes of any enactment to be a sum adjudged to be paid by or in respect of a conviction or a penalty imposed on a person summarily convicted.

A probationer who is required by a probation order to submit to treatment for his mental condition shall not be deemed for the purpose of this section to have failed to comply with that requirement on the ground only that he has refused to undergo any surgical, electrical or other treatment if, in the opinion of the court, his refusal was reasonable having regard to all the circumstances.

Without prejudice to the provisions of section 187 of this Act, a probationer who is convicted of an offence committed during the probation period shall not on that account be liable to be dealt with under this section for failing to comply with any requirement of the probation order.

If it appears to the court by which a probation order has been made (or to the appropriate court) that the probationer to whom the order relates has been convicted by a court in any part of Great Britain of an offence committed during the probation period and has been dealt with for that offence, the first-mentioned court (or the appropriate court) may issue a warrant for the arrest of the probationer, or may, if it thinks fit, instead of issuing a warrant in the first instance issue a citation requiring the probationer to appear before that court at such time as may be specified in the citation, and on his appearance or on his being brought before the court, the court may, if it thinks fit, deal with him under section 186(2)(b) of this Act.

Where a probationer is convicted by the court which made the probation order (or by the appropriate court) of an offence committed during the probation period, that court may, if it thinks fit, deal with him under section 186(2)(b) of this Act for the offence for which the order was made as well as for the offence committed during the period of probation.

Where the court by which a probation order is made under section 183 of this Act F5(not being a probation order including a requirement F6which, while corresponding to a requirement mentioned in paragraph 2 or 3 of Schedule 1A to the M1Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973, would if included in a probation order made under that Act fail to accord with a restriction as to days of presentation, participation or attendance mentioned in paragraph 2(4)(a) or (6)(a), or as the case may be 3(3)(a), of that Schedule ) is satisfied that the offender has attained the age of F716years and resides or will reside in England, subsection (2) of the said section shall not apply to the order, but the order shall contain a requirement that he be under the supervision of a probation officer appointed for or assigned to the petty sessions area in which the offender resides or will reside; F8. . . that area shall be named in the order F9; and where the order includes a requirement that the probationer perform unpaid work for a number of hours, the number specified shall not exceed one hundred..

If it appears on information to a justice acting for the petty sessions area F15named in a probation order made or amended under this section that the person to whom the order relates has been convicted by a court in any part of Great Britain of an offence committed during the period specified in the order, he may issue a summons requiring that person to appear, at the place and time specified therein, before the court in Scotland by which the probation order was made or, if the information is in writing and on oath, may issue a warrant for his arrest, directing that person to be brought before the last-mentioned court.

If a warrant for the arrest of a probationer issued under section 187 of this Act by a court is executed in England, and the probationer cannot forthwith be brought before that court, the warrant shall have effect as if it directed him to be brought before a magistrates’ court for the place where he is arrested; and the magistrates’ court shall commit him to custody or release him on bail (with or without sureties) until he can be brought or appear before the court in Scotland.

The court by which a probation order is made or amended in accordance with the provisions of this section shall send three copies of the order to the clerk to the justices for the petty sessions area named therein, together with such documents and information relating to the case as it considers likely to be of assistance to the court acting for that petty sessions area.

Where a probation order which is amended under subsection (2) of this section is an order to which the provisions of this Act apply by virtue of section 10 of the M1Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (which relates to probation orders under that Act relating to persons residing in Scotland) then, notwithstanding anything in that section or this section, the order shall, as from the date of the amendment, have effect in all respects as if it were an order made under section 2 of that Act in the case of a person residing in England.

Any court, on making a probation order, may, if it thinks that such a course is expedient for the purpose of the order, require the offender to give security for his good behaviour.

Security may be given under the foregoing subsection by consignation with the clerk of the court or by entering into an undertaking to pay the amount, but not otherwise, and such security may be forfeited and recovered in like manner as caution.

Subject as hereinafter provided, a conviction of an offence for which an order is made . . . F102 placing the offender on probation or discharging him absolutely shall be deemed not to be a conviction for any purpose other than the purposes of the proceedings in which the order is made and of laying it before a court as a previous conviction in subsequent proceedings for another offence:

Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, the conviction of an offender who is placed on probation or discharged absolutely as aforesaid shall in any event be disregarded for the purposes of any enactment which imposes any disqualification or disability upon convicted persons, or authorises or requires the imposition of any such disqualification or disability.

Where a person charged with an offence has at any time previously been placed on probation or discharged absolutely in respect of the commission by him of an offence it shall be competent, in the proceedings for that offence, to bring before the court the probation order or order of absolute discharge in like manner as if the order were a conviction.

to reduce the period of imprisonment:

to substitute for imprisonment (either with or without caution for good behaviour, not exceeding F17the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 289B of this Act and a period of 12 months) a fine . . . F18.

to substitute the finding of caution not exceeding F17the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 289B of this Act and the period of 12 months for a fine or imprisonment:

to reduce the amount of any fine:

to dispense with the finding of caution:

Where a person convicted on indictment of any offence (whether triable only on indictment or triable either on indictment or summarily F21other than by virtue of F22section 457A(4) of this Act) would, apart from this F23subsection be liable to a fine F24of or not exceeding a specified amount, he shall by virtue of this F23subsection be liable to a fine of any amount.

Where any Act confers a power by subordinate instrument to make a person liable on conviction on indictment of any offence mentioned in subsection (1) above to a fine or a maximum fine of a specified amount, or which shall not exceed a specified amount, the fine which may be provided in the exercise of that power shall by virtue of this subsection be a fine of an unlimited amount.

The provisions of Part II of this Act specified in subsection (2) below shall, subject to any necessary modifications, apply in relation to solemn proceedings as they apply in relation to summary proceedings.

The provisions mentioned in subsection (1) above are—

• section 395(1) (means of offender to be taken into account);

• section 395A (power to remit fines);

• section 396 (time for payment);

• section 397 (further time for payment);

• section 398 (reasons for default);

• section 399 (payment by instalments);

• section 400 (supervision pending payment of fine);

• section 401(2) and (3) (supplementary provisions);

• section 403 (transfer of fine orders);

• section 404 (action of clerk of court on transfer of fine order);

• section 406 (substitution of custody for imprisonment where child defaults on fine);

• section 407 (maximum period of imprisonment for non-payment of fine);

• section 408 (discharge from imprisonment to be specified);

• section 409 (payment of fine in part by prisoner);

• section 411 (recovery by civil diligence);

• Schedule 7 (application of sums paid as part of fine under section 409).

Any sentence or decree for any fine or expenses pronounced by any sheriff court may be enforced against the person or effects of any party against whom any such sentence or decree shall have been awarded in any other sheriff court district, as well as in the district where such sentence or decree is pronounced:

Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, a person convicted of murder shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life.

Where a person convicted of murder is under the age of 18 years he shall not be sentenced to imprisonment for life but to be detained without limit of time and shall be liable to be detained in such place, and under such conditions, as the Secretary of State may direct.

Where a person convicted of murder has attained the age of 18 years but is under the age of 21 years he shall not be sentenced to imprisonment for life but to be detained in a young offenders institution and shall be liable to be detained for life.

On sentencing any person convicted of murder a judge may make a recommendation as to the minimum period which should elapse before, under section F311(4) of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993, the Secretary of State releases that person on licence.

When making a recommendation under subsection (1) above, the judge shall state his reasons for so recommending.

Notwithstanding the proviso to subsection (1) of section 228 of this Act it shall be competent to appeal under paragraph (b) or (c) of that subsection against a recommendation made under subsection (1) above; and for the purposes of such appeal (including the High Court’s power of disposal under section 254(3)(b) of this Act) the recommendation shall be deemed part of the sentence passed on conviction.

Subject to section 205 of this Act, where a child is convicted and the court is of the opinion that no other method of dealing with him is appropriate, it may sentence him to be detained for a period which it shall specify in the sentence; and the child shall during that period be liable to be detained in such place and on such conditions as the Secretary of State may direct .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F33

It shall not be competent to impose imprisonment on a person under 21 years of age.

Subject to section 205(2) and (3) of this Act and to subsections (3) and (4) below a court may impose detention (whether by way of sentence or otherwise) on a person, who is not less than 16 but under 21 years of age, where but for subsection (1) above the court would have power to impose a period of imprisonment; and the period of detention imposed under this section on any person shall not exceed the maximum period of imprisonment which might otherwise have been imposed.

The court shall not under subsection (2) above impose detention on a person unless it is of the opinion that no other method of dealing with him is appropriate; and the court shall state its reasons for that opinion, and, except in the case of the High Court, those reasons shall be entered in the record of proceedings.

To enable the court to form an opinion under subsection (3) above, it shall obtain (from an officer of a local authority or otherwise) such information as it can about the offender’s circumstances; and it shall also take into account any information before it concerning the offender’s character and physical and mental condition.

A sentence of detention imposed under this section shall be a sentence of detention in a young offenders institution.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Where a person is convicted of an offence and is sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than twelve months but less than four years, the court on passing sentence may, if it considers that it is necessary to do so to protect the public from serious harm from the offender on his release, make such order as is mentioned in subsection (2) below.

Before making a supervised release order as respects a person the court shall explain to him, in as straightforward a way as is practicable, the effect of the order and the possible consequences for him of any breach of it.

In this section—

• “relevant officer” has the same meaning as in Part I of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993;

• “relevant period” means such period as may be specified in the supervised release order, being a period—

  1. a

     not exceeding twelve months after the date of the person’s release; and

  2. b

     no part of which is later than the date by which the entire term of imprisonment specified in his sentence has elapsed; and

• “supervising officer” means, where an authority has or justices have been designated as is mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above for the purposes of the order, any relevant officer or, as the case may be, probation officer who is for the time being supervising for those purposes the person released.

The foregoing provisions of this section apply to a person sentenced under section 207 or 415 of this Act as the provisions apply to a person sentenced to a period of imprisonment.

A person may be convicted of, and punished for, contravention of any F45enactment, notwithstanding that he was guilty of such contravention as art and part only.

Without prejudice to subsection (1) above or to any express provision in any enactment having the like effect to this subsection, any person who aids, abets, counsels, procures or incites any other person to commit an offence against the provisions of any enactment shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction, unless the enactment otherwise requires, to the same punishment as might be imposed on conviction of the first-mentioned offence.

In any case the sentence to be pronounced shall be announced by the judge in open court and shall be entered in the record in the form now in use in the High Court, and it shall not be necessary to read the entry of the sentence from the record.

In recording sentences of imprisonment, it shall be sufficient to minute the term of imprisonment to which the court sentenced the panel, without specifying the prison in which the sentence is to be carried out; and such entries of sentences, signed by the clerk of court, shall be full warrant and authority for all execution to follow thereon, and for the clerk to issue extracts thereof for carrying the same into execution or otherwise.

In extracting sentences of imprisonment, the extract may be in the form set out in an Act of Adjournal under this Act or as nearly as may be in such form.

It shall be competent for a court to defer sentence after conviction for a period and on such conditions as the court may determine.

If it appears to the court by which sentence on a person has been deferred under subsection (1) above that that person has been convicted, during the period of deferment, by a court in any part of Great Britain of an offence committed during that period and has been dealt with for that offence, the first mentioned court may issue a warrant for the arrest of that person, or may, instead of issuing such a warrant in the first instance, issue a citation requiring him to appear before it at such time as may be specified in the citation; and on his appearance or on his being brought before the court it may deal with him in any manner in which it would be competent for it to deal with him on the expiry of the period of deferment.

Where a court which has deferred sentence under subsection (1) above on a person convicts that person of another offence during the period of deferment, it may deal with him for the original offence in any manner in which it would be competent for it to deal with him on the expiry of the period of deferment, as well as for the offence committed during the said period.

No person shall be sentenced by a court to penal servitude; and every enactment conferring power on a court to pass a sentence of penal servitude in any case shall be construed as conferring power to pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding the maximum term of penal servitude for which a sentence could have been passed in that case immediately before 12th June 1950:

No person shall be sentenced by a court to imprisonment with hard labour; and every enactment conferring power on a court to pass a sentence of imprisonment with hard labour in any case shall be construed as conferring power to pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding the term for which a sentence of imprisonment with hard labour could have been passed in that case immediately before 12th June 1950; and so far as any enactment requires or permits prisoners to be kept to hard labour it shall cease to have effect.

Any reference in this section to facilitating the commission of an offence shall include a reference to the taking of any steps after it has been committed for the purpose of disposing of any property to which it relates or of avoiding apprehension or detection.

Where a person is convicted of an offence (other than one triable only summarily) and the court which passes sentence is satisfied that a motor vehicle was used for the purpose of committing, or facilitating the commission of that offence, the court may order him to be disqualified for such period as the court thinks fit from holding or obtaining a licence to drive a motor vehicle granted under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

A court which makes an order under this section disqualifying a person from holding or obtaining a licence shall require him to produce any such licence held by him and its counterpart.

Any reference in this section to facilitating the commission of an offence shall include a reference to the taking of any steps after it has been committed for the purpose of disposing of any property to which it relates or of avoiding apprehension or detection.

In relation to licences which came into force before 1st June 1990, the reference in subsection (2) above to the counterpart of a licence shall be disregarded.

A correction in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (2) above shall be intimated to the prosecutor and to the former accused or his solicitor.

Any correction under subsections (1) and (2) above by the clerk of the court shall be authenticated by his signature and, if such correction is authorised by a court, shall record the name of the judge or judges authorising such correction and the date of such authority.