A deferment order enables the court to delay passing a sentence. The court may impose requirements about the offender’s conduct during the period of deferment, such as attendance at rehabilitative programmes. Deferment orders enable sentencers to consider the offender’s conduct after conviction and any change in their circumstances when making sentencing decisions.
	The ISR recommended that the maximum period of a deferment order be extended from 6 months to 12 months, to enable greater flexibility for sentencers to use their discretion to assess ‘transitional life circumstances’ that go beyond six months. This may be particularly useful for offenders experiencing serious illness or pregnancy.
	This Act includes a measure to extend the maximum deferment order period to 12 months, in line with the ISR recommendation. This Act does not make any other changes to deferment orders.
Policy background Part 1: Sentencing Deferment of sentence