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- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 28/03/2009
Point in time view as at 14/07/2008.
Criminal Justice Act 1961 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 1, 3–7 repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 16
Textual Amendments
Textual Amendments
F3Ss. 1, 3–7 repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 16
(1) . . . F4
(2) . . . F5
(3) . . . F6
(4) . . . F7
Textual Amendments
F4S. 8(1) repealed by Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54), s. 73(2), Sch. 6 and by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), s. 65(7), Sch. 13
F5S. 8(2) repealed by Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54), Sch. 6
F6S. 8(3) repealed by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), Sch. 9
F7S. 8(4) repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1972 (c. 71), Sch. 6 Pt. II
Textual Amendments
F8S. 9 repealed by Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (c. 62), Sch. 6
Textual Amendments
Textual Amendments
Textual Amendments
(1)If it appears to the Secretary of State that the provision made in any approved school with regard to any matter relating to—
(a)the premises or equipment of the school,
(b)the number or grades of the staff employed in the school, or
(c)the education, training or welfare of persons under the care of the managers,
is inadequate or unsuitable, he may give to the managers such directions as he thinks necessary for securing that proper provision is made with respect thereto.
(2)Where it appears to the Secretary of State that the managers of an approved school have failed to give effect to any directions under this section, subsection (2) of section seventy-nine of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (which empowers the Secretary of State in certain circumstances to withdraw his certificate of approval) shall apply as it applies where he is dissatisfied as mentioned in that section.]
Textual Amendments
F12S. 18 repealed (prosp.) by Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54), s. 72(3), Sch. 6
(1)The Secretary of State may by order make provision for regulating the constitution and proceedings of the managers of any approved school other than a school provided by a local authority or by a joint committee representing two or more local authorities; and any such order shall have effect notwithstanding anything in any trust deed relating to the school.
(2)Before making an order under the foregoing subsection in respect of any school, the Secretary of State shall afford to the managers of the school an opportunity for making representations with respect to the proposed order; and in making any such order the Secretary of State shall have regard to all the circumstances of the school, and to the manner in which it has been managed theretofore.
(3)If in the case of an approved school, other than a school provided by a local authority or by a joint committee representing two or more local authorities, the Secretary of State is satisfied that by reason of special circumstances it is necessary to do so in the interests of the efficient management of the school, he may appoint one or more persons as additional members of the body constituting the managers of the school; and any person so appointed shall, notwithstanding anything in any trust deed relating to the school or in any order made in respect of the school under subsection (1) of this section, be one of the managers of the school until such time as his appointment is terminated by the Secretary of State or under subsection (4) of this section.
(4)Any order or appointment made under this section in respect of an approved school shall cease to have effect if that school ceases to be an approved school; but nothing in this subsection shall affect the validity of anything done while the order or appointment was in force.
(5)In this section “trust deed”, in relation to any school, includes any instrument (not being an order under this section) regulating the constitution of the school, or its maintenance, management or conduct, or the constitution or proceedings of its managers.]
Textual Amendments
F13S. 19 repealed (prosp.) by Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54), s. 72(3), Sch. 6
Textual Amendments
F14S. 20 repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), s. 60(7), Sch. 7 Pt. I
Textual Amendments
F15S. 21 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974 (c. 22), Sch. Pt. XI
F16(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2)If any person knowingly harbours a person who has escaped from a prison or other institution to which the said section thirty-nine applies, or who, having been sentenced in any part of the United Kingdom or in any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man to imprisonment or detention, is otherwise unlawfully at large, or gives to any such person any assistance with intent to prevent, hinder or interfere with his being taken into custody, he shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, or to both;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F17ten years], or to a fine, or to both.
(3)In the following enactments (which make provision for the application of sections thirty-nine to forty-two of the M1Prison Act 1952) that is to say, subsection (3) of section one hundred and twenty-two of the M2Army Act 1955, subsection (3) of section one hundred and twenty-two of the M3Air Force Act 1955 and subsection (3) of section eighty-two of the M4Naval Discipline Act 1957, references to the said section thirty-nine shall be construed as including references to subsection (2) of this section.
(4) . . . F18
Textual Amendments
F16S. 22(1) repealed (16.5.1992) by Prison Security Act 1992 (c. 25), ss. 2(3)(4), 3(2).
F17Words in s. 22(2)(b) substituted (16.5.1992) by Prison Security Act 1992 (c. 25), ss. 2(2)(4), 3(2).
F18Ss. 22(4), 25 repealed by Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54), Sch. 6
Marginal Citations
(1)For the purposes of rules under section forty-seven of the M5Prison Act 1952 (which authorises the making of rules for the regulation and management of prisons and the discipline and control of persons required to be detained therein) any offence against the rules committed by a prisoner may be treated as committed in the prison in which he is for the time being confined.
(2)Without prejudice to any power to make provision by rules under the said section forty-seven for the confiscation of money or articles conveyed or deposited in contravention of the said Act or of the rules, provision may be made by such rules for the withholding from prisoners (subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed by the rules) of any money or other article sent to them [F19by post], and for the disposal of any such money or article either by returning it to the sender (where the sender’s name and address are known) or in such other manner as may be prescribed by or determined under the rules:
Provided that in relation to a prisoner committed to prison in default of payment of any sum of money, the rules shall provide for the application of any money withheld as aforesaid in or towards the satisfaction of the amount due from him unless, upon being informed of the receipt of the money, he objects to its being so applied.
(3)A prisoner who would, apart from this subsection, be discharged on any of the days to which this subsection applies in his case shall be discharged on the next preceding day which is not one of those days.
[F20The days] [F20Subject to subsection (3A), the days] to which this subsection applies are Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday and any day which under the M6Bank Holidays Act 1871 is a bank holiday in England and Wales and, in the case of a person who is serving a term of more than [F21five days] , any Saturday.
[F22(3A)In relation to a prisoner to whom an intermittent custody order under section 183 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 relates, the only days to which subsection (3) applies are Christmas Day, Good Friday and any day which under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 is a bank holiday in England and Wales.]
(4)In this section the references to prisons and prisoners include references respectively to [F23a young offender institution] [F24secure training centres] and remand centres and to persons detained therein.
Textual Amendments
F19Words in s. 23(2) substituted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 17
F20Words in s. 23(3) substituted (26.1.2004 for specified purposes) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 186(4), 336(3)(4); S.I. 2003/3282, art. 2, Sch.
F21Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 14 para. 10(a)
F22S. 23(3A) inserted (26.1.2004 for specified purposes) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 186(4), 336(3)(4); S.I. 2003/3282, art. 2, Sch.
F23Words in Act substituted (1.10.1988) by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33), Sch. 8 para. 1
F24Words in s. 23(4) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(2), Sch. 10 para. 11; S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. Appendix B
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 23(3) excluded (1.9.2001) by 2001 c. 17, s. 42, Sch. 7 para. 2(1)(c); S.I. 2001/2161, art. 2
Marginal Citations
(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for transferring to the Secretary of State any or all of the functions of the Prison Commissioners (in this section referred to as “the Commissioners”).
(2)An Order in Council under this section may contain such incidental, consequential and supplemental provisions as may be necessary or expedient in connection with the transfer effected by that or any previous Order thereunder, including provisions—
(a)for the transfer of any property, rights or liabilities to which the Commissioners are entitled or subject, and for the vesting in the person from time to time holding office as Secretary of State of land or other property transferred by any such Order, or acquired under powers so transferred;
(b)for the carrying on and completion by or under the authority of the Secretary of State of anything begun by or under the authority of the Commissioners before the date of transfer;
(c)for the substitution of the Secretary of State for the Commissioners in any instrument, contract or legal proceeding made or begun before that date;
(d)for the transfer to the Home Department of Commissioners and inspectors, officers or servants of the Commissioners and (in the case of the transfer of the powers and jurisdiction of the Commissioners in respect of all institutions within their superintendence) for the dissolution of the Commissioners.
(3)An Order in Council under this section may make such adaptations or repeals in the enactments relating to the Commissioners, or to institutions within their superintendence, as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of the Order or any previous Order thereunder, and shall in particular make provision for securing that any report which, apart from any such Order, would be required by subsection (1) of section five of the M7Prison Act 1952 to be made to the Secretary of State by the Commissioners shall be issued by the Secretary of State and laid before Parliament under that section accordingly.
(4)A certificate of the Secretary of State that any property vested in the Commissioners has been transferred to the Secretary of State by virtue of an Order in Council under this section shall be conclusive evidence of the transfer.
(5)No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under this section unless a draft of the Order has been laid before Parliament and has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
(6)In this section “functions” includes powers and duties, and “the date of transfer” means the date on which an Order in Council under this section transferring functions of the Commissioners comes into force.
Marginal Citations
Textual Amendments
F25Ss. 22(4), 25 repealed by Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54), Sch. 6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F26Pt. III (ss. 26-33) repealed (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 56(2), Sch. 6; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(o)(with saving in art. 5(6) and subject to amendments (1.3.1998) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(2), Sch. 10 para. 12; S.I. 1998/277, art. 3(2))
Textual Amendments
F64S. 34 repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 16
(1)Any person required or authorised by or under this Act to be taken to any place or to be kept in custody shall, while being so taken or kept, be deemed to be in legal custody.
(2)A constable, or any other person required or authorised by or under this Act to take any person to or keep him at any place shall, while taking or keeping him there have all the powers, authorities, protection and privileges which a constable has within the area for which he acts as constable.
(1)Any power of the Secretary of State to make orders under this Act (other than orders under subsection (1) of section nineteen F65. . .) shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
(2)Any Order in Council or order under this Act may be varied or revoked by a subsequent Order in Council or order.
Textual Amendments
F65Words in s. 36(1) repealed (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 56(2), Sch. 6; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(o) (with art. 5(6))
In any case where a court is required by this Act to consider a report made by or on behalf of the [F66Secretary of State] in respect of an offender, the court shall cause a copy of the report to be given to the offender or his counsel or solicitor.
Textual Amendments
F66Words substituted by S.I. 1963/597, Sch. 2
(1)Except as provided by subsection (3) of this section, the expression “sentence” in this Act does not include a committal for default or the fixing of a term to be served in the event of default, or a committal or attachment for contempt of court.
(2)For the purposes of any provisions of this Act referring to a person who is serving or has served a sentence of any description, the expression “sentence” includes—
(a)in any case, a sentence of that description passed by a court in Scotland, Northern Ireland, any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; and
(b)in the case of imprisonment, a sentence passed by a court-martial on a person found guilty of a civil offence (within the meaning of the M22Naval Discipline Act 1957, the M23Army Act 1955 or the M24Air Force Act 1955), and a sentence which is treated by virtue of the M25Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884 as a sentence passed by a court in England and Wales.
(3)For the purposes F67. . .of sections twenty-two and thirty-four of this Act—
[F68(a)the expression “imprisonment or detention” means imprisonment, custody for life, detention in a young offenders institution or in a secure training centre or detention under an equivalent sentence passed by a court in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man;]
(b)the expression “sentence” includes a sentence passed by a court-martial for any offence, and any order made by any court imposing imprisonment or detention, and “sentenced” shall be construed accordingly.
[F69(c)any reference to a person serving a sentence of, or sentenced to, imprisonment or detention shall be construed as including a reference to a person who, under any enactment relating to children and young persons in force in any part of the United Kingdom or any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, has been sentenced by a court to be detained for an offence and is liable to be detained in accordance with [F70a determination of the Secretary of State or of a person authorised by him, in accordance with arrangements made by the Secretary of State or in accordance with] directions given by the Secretary of State, . . . F71 or by the Governor of the Isle of Man with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, and any other reference to a sentence of imprisonment or detention shall be construed accordingly.]
(4)For the purposes of any reference in this Act to a term of imprisonment or of detention in a detention centre or to a term of imprisonment or detention, consecutive terms and terms which are wholly or partly concurrent shall be treated as a single term.
[F72(5)For the purposes of this Act (and of any enactment referred to in Part III of this Act)—
(a)a sentence [F73of detention in a young offenders institution passed in Scotland, and a sentence] of penal servitude passed in any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man shall be treated as a sentence of imprisonment for the like term;
[F74(aa)An order for detention in a young offenders centre passed in Northern Ireland shall be treated as a sentence of imprisonment for the like term.]
(b)a sentence of detention in a borstal institution passed as aforesaid shall be treated as a sentence of borstal training;
(c)a sentence of death passed by any court (including a court-martial) on a person subsequently pardoned by Her Majesty on condition of his serving a term of imprisonment or penal servitude shall be treated as a sentence of imprisonment or penal servitude passed by that court for that term; and
(d)without prejudice to paragraph (c) of this subsection, any reference to a person on whom a sentence of any description has been passed includes a reference to a person who under the law of any part of the United Kingdom, any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man is treated as a person on whom a sentence of that description has been passed;
and “sentenced” shall be construed accordingly.]
[F75(6)The Secretary of State may by order designate as equivalent sentences for the purposes of this Act F67. . . a description of sentence which a court with jurisdiction in one part of the United Kingdom or in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man may pass and a description of sentence which a court elsewhere in the United Kingdom or in those Islands may pass;]
Textual Amendments
F67Words in s. 38(3)(6) repealed (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 56(2), Sch. 6; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(o)
F68S. 38(3)(a) substituted (1.3.1998) by 1994 by virtue of c. 33, s. 168(2), Sch. 10 para. 12(5); S.I. 1998/277, art. 3(2)
F69S. 38(3)(c) added by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), s. 69(1)
F70Words in s. 38(3)(c) inserted (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), s. 153(7), Sch. 26 para. 4; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 48(c)
F71Words repealed by S.I. 1973/2163, Sch. 6
F72S. 38(5) repealed (prosp.) except that the repeal is in force (E.W.N.I.) so far as regards subsection (a) and (b) and is in force (S.) except as regards subparas. (c) and (d) by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 80(2), Sch. 16
F73Words inserted by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1963 (c. 39), Sch. 5
F74S. 38(5)(aa) inserted by Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 29), Sch. 3 Pt. III
F75S. 38(6) inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 14 para. 15(b)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C6S. 38(2)–(5) extended by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), s. 14(4)
Marginal Citations
(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them, that is to say:—
[F76[F77“appropriate institution”, in relation to any person, means, subject to subsection (1A) of this section, any institution which would be appropriate for the detention of an offender of the same age serving an equivalent sentence passed by a court in the place to which he has been transferred;]]
“court-martial” includes the Courts-Martial Appeal Court and any officer exercising jurisdiction under section forty-nine of the Naval Discipline Act 1957:
“default” means failure to pay, or want of sufficient distress to satisfy, any fine or other sum of money, or failure to do or abstain from doing any thing required to be done or left undone;
“enactment” includes an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland;
“prison” does not include a naval, military or air force prison;
[F77 “responsible Minister” means—
(a)in relation to persons detained in England and Wales or in Scotland, a Secretary of State;
(b)in relation to persons detained in Northern Ireland, [F78the Secretary of State]];
. . . F79
[F80[F81(1A)Subsection (1) of this section shall have effect in relation to a person serving a sentence of a length which could not have been passed on an offender of his age by a court in the place to which he has been transferred as if it defined “appropriate institution” as meaning such place as the Secretary of State may direct.]
(1B)Any reference in this Act to a sentence being equivalent to another sentence is to be construed as a reference to its having been so designated under section 38(6) of this Act.]
(2)Except as otherwise expressly provided, references in this Act to a court do not include references to a court-martial; and nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the punishment which may be awarded by a court-martial under the M26Naval Discipline Act 1957, the M27Army Act 1955 or the M28Air Force Act 1955, for a civil offence within the meaning of those Acts.
(3)Where the age of any person at any time is material for the purposes of any provision of this Act regulating the powers of a court or justice of the peace, his age at the material time shall be deemed to be or to have been that which appears to the court or justice, after considering any available evidence, to be or to have been his age at that time.
(4)Any reference in this Act to any other enactment is a reference thereto as amended, and includes a reference thereto as extended or applied, by or under any other enactment, including this Act.
Textual Amendments
F76Definition substituted by Crimminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 14 para. 16(a)
F77Definitions in s. 39(1) repealed (E.W.)(1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 56(2), Sch. 6; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(o)
F78Words substituted by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 12
F79Definition repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 16
F81S. 39(1A) repealed (E.W.)(1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 56(2), Sch. 6; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(o)
Marginal Citations
(1) . . . F82
[F83(2)Any reference in this Act to an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, or to an enactment which that Parliament has power to amend, shall be construed, in relation to Northern Ireland, as a reference to that enactment as amended by any Act of that Parliament, whether passed before or after this Act, and to any enactment of that Parliament passed after this Act and re-enacting the said enactment with or without modifications.]
Textual Amendments
(1)The enactments described in the Fourth Schedule to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in the second column of that Schedule, being minor amendments and amendments consequential on the foregoing provisions of this Act.
(2) . . . F84
F85(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F85(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F84S. 41(2) repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974 (c. 22), Sch. Pt. XI
F85S. 41(3)(4) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1) Sch. 1 Pt. I Group1.
(1)The following provisions of this Act shall extend to Scotland, that is to say—
F86. . .
section thirty-five;
[F87section thirty-six;]
sections thirty-eight and thirty-nine;
section forty-one and the Fourth F88. . . Schedules so far as they relate to enactments which extend to Scotland;
but except as aforesaid, and except so far as it relates to the commencement of the said provisions, this Act shall not extend to Scotland.
(2)The following provisions of this Act shall extend to Northern Ireland, that is to say—
F86. . .
section thirty-five;
[F87section thirty-six;]
sections thirty-eight to forty;
section forty-one and the Fourth F88. . . Schedules, so far as they relate to enactments which extend to Northern Ireland;
but except as aforesaid, and except so far as it relates to the commencement of the said provisions, this Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.
Textual Amendments
F86Words in s. 42(1)(2) repealed (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 56(2), Sch. 6; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(o) (with art. 5(6))
F87Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 14 para. 17
F88Words in s. 42(1)(2) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1) Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1.
There shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament any increase attributable to the provisions of this Act in the sums which, under any other enactment, are payable out of moneys so provided.
(1)The foregoing provisions of this Act (including the Schedules therein referred to) shall come into operation on such date as the Secretary of State may by order appoint.
(2)Different dates may be appointed by order under this section for different purposes of this Act; and any reference in this Act to the commencement of any provision of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the date appointed for the purposes of that provision.
This Act may be cited as the Criminal Justice Act 1961.
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