Criminal Justice Act 1991

51 Interpretation of Part II. E+W

(1) In this Part—

• “the Board” means the Parole Board;

• F1 . . .

• F1 . . .

• “long-term prisoner” and “short-term prisoner” have the meanings given by section 33(5) above (as extended by sections 43(1) and 45(1) above);

• “sentence of imprisonment” does not include a committal in default of payment of any sum of money, or for want of sufficient distress to satisfy any sum of money, or for failure to do or abstain from doing anything required to be done or left undone.

• “sexual offence” and “violent offence” have the same meanings as in [F2 the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000].

[F3 (2) For the purposes of any reference in this Part, however expressed, to the term of imprisonment to which a person has been sentenced or which, or part of which, he has served, consecutive terms and terms which are wholly or partly concurrent shall be treated as a single term if—

(a) the sentences were passed on the same occasion; or

(b) where they were passed on different occasions, the person has not been released under this Part at any time during the period beginning with the first and ending with the last of those occasions.

(2A) Where a suspended sentence of imprisonment is ordered to take effect, with or without any variation of the original term, the occasion on which that order is made shall be treated for the purposes of subsection (2) above as the occasion on which the sentence is passed.

(2B) Where a person has been sentenced to two or more terms of imprisonment which are wholly or partly concurrent and do not fall to be treated as a single term—

(a) nothing in this Part shall require the Secretary of State to release him in respect of any of the terms unless and until the Secretary of State is required to release him in respect of each of the others;

(b) nothing in this Part shall require the Secretary of State or the Board to consider his release in respect of any of the terms unless and until the Secretary of State or the Board is required to consider his release, or the Secretary of State is required to release him, in respect of each of the others;

(c) on and after his release under this Part he shall be on licence for so long, and subject to such conditions, as is required by this Part in respect of any of the sentences; F4 . . .

F4 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2C) Where a person has been sentenced to one or more terms of imprisonment and to one or more life sentences (within the meaning of section 34 of the M1 Crime (Sentences) Act 1997), nothing in this Part shall—

(a) require the Secretary of State to release the person in respect of any of the terms unless and until the Secretary of State is required to release him in respect of each of the life sentences; or

(b) require the Secretary of State or the Board to consider the person’s release in respect of any of the terms unless and until the Secretary of State or the Board is required to consider his release in respect of each of the life sentences.

(2D) Subsections (2B) and (2C) above shall have effect as if the term of an extended sentence (within the meaning of [F5 section 85 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000]) included the extension period (within the meaning of that section).]

F6 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F7 (4) Section 161(4) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (meaning of “protecting the public from serious harm”) shall apply for the purposes of this Part as it applies for the purposes of that Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Definitions in s. 51(1) repealed (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 56(2), 57(2), Sch. 6 (subject to transitional provisions and savings in s. 56(1), Sch. 5 para. 1); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(p)(3)(f) (subject to transitional provisions and savings in art. 5)

F2 S. 51(1): words in definition of

“sexual offence”

and

“violent offence”

substituted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165, 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 144(1)(2)

F3 S. 51(2)(2A)(2B)(2C)(2D) substituted for s. 51(2) (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 101(1) (with Sch. 9 para. 11); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(v)(z).

F4 S. 51(2B)(d) and word “and”immediately preceding it repealed (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165, 168(1), Sch. 12 Pt. I (with Sch. 11 paras. 1, 2)

F5 Words in s. 51(2D) substituted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165, 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 144(1)(3)

F6 S. 51(3) repealed (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, ss. 56(2), 57(2), Sch. 6 (subject to transitional provisions and savings in s. 56(1), Sch. 5 para. 1); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(p)(3)(f) (subject to transitional provisions and savings in art. 5)

F7 S. 51(4) substituted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165, 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 144(1)(4)

Commencement Information

I1 Pt. II (ss. 32-51) wholly in force at 1.10.1992 see s. 102(2)(3) and S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2.

Marginal Citations

M1 1997 c.43.