Criminal Justice Act 2003

159 Disclosure of pre-sentence reports E+W

(1) This section applies where the court obtains a pre-sentence report, other than a report given orally in open court.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the court must give a copy of the report—

(a) to the offender or his [F1 legal representative],

(b) if the offender is aged under 18, to any parent or guardian of his who is present in court, and

(c) to the prosecutor, that is to say, the person having the conduct of the proceedings in respect of the offence.

(3) If the offender is aged under 18 and it appears to the court that the disclosure to the offender or to any parent or guardian of his of any information contained in the report would be likely to create a risk of significant harm to the offender, a complete copy of the report need not be given to the offender or, as the case may be, to that parent or guardian.

(4) If the prosecutor is not of a description prescribed by order made by the Secretary of State, a copy of the report need not be given to the prosecutor if the court considers that it would be inappropriate for him to be given it.

(5) No information obtained by virtue of subsection (2)(c) may be used or disclosed otherwise than for the purpose of—

(a) determining whether representations as to matters contained in the report need to be made to the court, or

(b) making such representations to the court.

(6) In relation to an offender aged under 18 for whom a local authority have parental responsibility and who—

(a) is in their care, or

(b) is provided with accommodation by them in the exercise of any social services functions,

references in this section to his parent or guardian are to be read as references to that authority.

(7) In this section and section 160—

• “harm” has the same meaning as in section 31 of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41);

• “local authority” and “parental responsibility” have the same meanings as in that Act;

• “social services functions”, in relation to a local authority, has the meaning given [F2 —

  (a)

  in relation to England,] by section 1A of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42).

  (b)

  [F3 in relation to Wales, has the meaning given by section 143 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 159(2)(a) substituted (1.1.2010) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), ss. 208, 211, Sch. 21 para. 147 (with ss. 29, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/3250, art. 2(h) (with art. 9)

F2 Words in s. 159(7) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 211(a)

F3 Words in s. 159(7) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 211(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 159(1)-(3)(5) applied (28.3.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 257(4), 383 (with ss. 271(1), 385); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3 (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

Commencement Information

I1 S. 159 wholly in force at 4.4.2005; s. 159 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 336(3); s. 159(4) in force at 7.3.2005 by S.I. 2005/373, art. 2; s. 159 in force at 4.4.2005 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 7 (subject to art. 2(2), Sch. 2)