1. Custodial sentences Community sentences Fines Discharges
Sentencing II
Custodial sentences
Community sentences
Fines
Discharges

2. Custodial Sentences
The most serious punishment that a court can impose
Range from ‘weekend’ prison to life imprisonment
Meant only for the most serious offences

3. Custodial Sentences The main types of custodial sentence for adults:
Mandatory life sentences: Murder carries a mandatory life sentence, ranging from 12 years to a full life term
Discretionary life sentences: where the judge can impose life, but does not have to, e.g. rape or manslaughter

4. Custodial Sentences
Fixed term sentences: imprisonment for a set number of months or years, for those aged 21+
Intermittent custody: where the defendant spends weekends or other periods in prison, but is free for the rest of the time

5. Custodial Sentences
Suspended sentences: where the offender will only serve time in prison if he/she breaches the terms of the suspension, any time between 6 months and 2 years

6. Community Sentences
Where the offender is required to meet certain requirements in the community
Can be anything from an unpaid work requirement (e.g. litter picking)…
…to a curfew
…or a drug/alcohol rehabilitation requirement

7. Fines
This is the most common form of sentencing in the Magistrates’ Court
Magistrates can impose a maximum fine of £5000 on an individual, or £20,000 on a business
Fines are sometimes used in the Crown Court, but this is quite rare

8. Discharges These may be a conditional or an absolute discharge
Conditional discharge means that the court discharges an offender on the condition that no further offence is committed during a set period of up to 3 years
Absolute discharge means that no penalty is imposed, likely to be used where the defendant is technically guilty but morally blameless