Overview of the Act Prisoners on early release Section 86 – Sentencing under the 1993 Act
225.Where an offence (“the new offence”) has been committed while a person was on early release, section 16(2) of the 1993 Act provides that a Scottish court may, instead of or in addition to imposing a sentence for plea or finding of guilt, order that a person may be returned to prison for a period of time. This period can be up to a maximum length equal to the period of time between the date on which the new offence was committed and the date of the expiry of their previous sentence. Section 16(2)(b) of the 1993 Act provides that where the court dealing with the new offence is inferior to the court which imposed the sentence from which the person was released early, the inferior court cannot directly impose a section 16 order and can only refer the case to the higher court for consideration to be given as to whether a section 16 order should be imposed.
226.Section 86(2) of the Act adjusts section 16(1) of the 1993 Act so that prisoners released early under Part 12 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 can have section 16 orders imposed upon them.
227.Section 86(4) of the Act inserts new section 16(2A) into the 1993 Act. New section 16(2A) provides new discretion for courts dealing with persons who have committed offences while on early release from a previous sentence imposed by a higher court. The effect of the new discretion is that inferior courts will be able to consider making a section 16 order in such cases.
228.The powers of inferior courts to impose section 16 orders are restricted to those cases where the maximum length of a section 16 order does not exceed the sentencing powers of the court in respect of common law offences. Section 7(6) of the 1995 Act provides that a Justice of the Peace court can impose a custodial sentence for common law offences of up to 60 days. Section 5(2) of the 1995 Act provides a sheriff summary court can impose a custodial sentence for a common law offence of up to 12 months. Section 3(3) of the 1995 Act provides a sheriff solemn court can impose a custodial sentence for a common law offence of up to 5 years.
229.New section 16(2A)(b)(i) provides that a Justice of the Peace court will be able to impose a section 16 order in cases where the maximum length of a section 16 order does not exceed 60 days.
230.New section 16(2A)(b)(ii) provides that a sheriff court sitting summarily (i.e. without a jury) will be able to impose a section 16 order in cases where the maximum length of a section 16 order does not exceed 12 months.
231.New section 16(2A)(b)(iii) provides that a sheriff court sitting as a court of solemn jurisdiction (i.e. with a jury) will be able to impose a section 16 order in cases where the maximum length of a section 16 order does not exceed 5 years.
232.Section 86(3) makes consequential changes to section 16(2) reflecting the insertion of new section 16(2A) into the 1993 Act.