Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000
Last amended by Sentencing Act 2020 in 2020. Consolidated sentencing procedure into the Sentencing Code and repealed the great majority of this Act's provisions.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 was the consolidating statute that, for most of the 2000s and 2010s, set out the sentencing powers of the criminal courts in England and Wales — deferment of sentence and committal for sentence, absolute and conditional discharges, the referral-order scheme for young offenders, community and reparation orders, custodial sentences, and financial orders such as compensation orders (s.130). It has been very largely repealed and replaced by the Sentencing Act 2020, which codified sentencing procedure into the 'Sentencing Code'. The 2000 Act remains historically important and continues to apply to a residue of cases, including some offences committed before the Code took effect.
Key Points
- Consolidated the sentencing powers of the criminal courts (deferment, discharges, community, custodial, and financial orders)
- Referral orders for young offenders to youth offender panels (Part III)
- Compensation orders against convicted persons (s.130)
- Framework for community sentences and reparation orders
- Very largely repealed and replaced by the Sentencing Act 2020 (the Sentencing Code)
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2020 — Sentencing Act 2020
Consolidated sentencing procedure into the Sentencing Code and repealed the great majority of this Act's provisions.
Frequently asked questions
- What was the main purpose of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000?
- The Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 was the main statute that set out the sentencing powers of criminal courts in England and Wales for much of the 2000s and 2010s. It covered various sentencing options, including deferment, discharges, community orders, custodial sentences, and financial orders like compensation. It has now been largely repealed and replaced by the Sentencing Act 2020.
- Is the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 still in force?
- The Act has been very largely repealed and replaced by the Sentencing Act 2020, which codified sentencing procedure into the 'Sentencing Code'. However, the 2000 Act remains historically important and continues to apply to a residue of cases, specifically including some offences that were committed before the Sentencing Code took effect.
- What was a referral order under the 2000 Act?
- A referral order allowed the youth court to refer certain young offenders who had pleaded guilty to a youth offender panel instead of imposing another sentence. The Act set out compulsory and discretionary conditions that determined when a referral order could or had to be made under this scheme.
- What did the Act say about compensation orders?
- Section 130 of the Act empowered a court to order a convicted person to pay compensation for personal injury, loss, or damage resulting from the offence. Section 131 specifically set limits on the amount of compensation that a magistrates' court could order in such cases.
- What types of sentences were covered by the 2000 Act?
- The Act provided a framework for community sentences and reparation orders. It also covered other sentencing powers, including deferment of sentence, committal for sentence, absolute and conditional discharges, and custodial sentences. These provisions were largely consolidated into the Sentencing Code under the 2020 Act.