Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000

91 Offenders under 18 convicted of certain serious offences: power to detain for specified period. E+W

(1) Subsection (3) below applies where a person aged under 18 is convicted on indictment of—

(a) an offence punishable in the case of a person aged 21 or over with imprisonment for 14 years or more, not being an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law; or

[F1 (b) an offence under section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (in this section, “the 2003 Act”) (sexual assault); or

(c) an offence under section 13 of the 2003 Act (child sex offences committed by children or young persons); or

(d) an offence under section 25 of the 2003 Act (sexual activity with a child family member); or

(e) an offence under section 26 of the 2003 Act (inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity).]

[F2 (1A) Subsection (3) below also applies where—

(a) a person aged under 18 is convicted on indictment of an offence—

(i) under subsection (1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af) or (c) of section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (prohibited weapons), or

(ii) under subsection (1A)(a) of that section,

(b) the offence was committed after the commencement of section 51A of that Act and at a time when he was aged 16 or over, and

(c) the court is of the opinion mentioned in section 51A(2) of that Act (exceptional circumstances which justify its not imposing required custodial sentence).]

F3 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) If the court is of the opinion that none of the other methods in which the case may legally be dealt with is suitable, the court may sentence the offender to be detained for such period, not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment with which the offence is punishable in the case of a person aged 21 or over, as may be specified in the sentence.

(4) Subsection (3) above is subject to (in particular) sections 79 and 80 above.

[F4 (5) Where subsection (2) of section 51A of the Firearms Act 1968 requires the imposition of a sentence of detention under this section for a term of at least the required minimum term (within the meaning of that section), the court shall sentence the offender to be detained for such period, of at least that term but not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment with which the offence is punishable in the case of a person aged 18 or over, as may be specified in the sentence.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 91(1)(b)-(e) substituted for s. 91(1)(b)(c) (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), s. 141, Sch. 6 para. 43(2); S.I. 2004/874, art. 2

F2 S. 91(1A) inserted (22.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 289(1)(2), 336(3)(4); S.I. 2004/81, art. 3(1)(2)(b)

F3 S. 91(2) repealed (5.4.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 37 Pt. 7; S.I. 2004/829, art. 2(1)(2)(l)(iii)

F4 S. 91(5) inserted (22.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 289(1)(3), 336(3)(4); S.I. 2004/81, art. 3(1)(2)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 91(1A)(c): power to repeal conferred (22.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 291(1)(b), 336(3)(4); S.I. 2004/81, art. 3(1)(2)(b)

C2 S. 91(5): power to repeal conferred (22.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 291(1)(b), 336(3)(4); S.I. 2004/81, art. 3(1)(2)(b)