{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-act-2006/section-185",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-act-2006/section-185.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2006/52",
  "legislation_title": "Armed Forces Act 2006",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-act-2006",
  "path": "section/185",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "185",
  "heading": "Conditional or absolute discharge",
  "text": "(1) A conditional discharge is an order discharging the offender subject to the condition that he commits no service offence during a period specified in the order.\n(2) The period specified in the order (“the period of conditional discharge”) must—\n(a) begin with the date of the order; and\n(b) not exceed the maximum period for the time being specified in section 80(5) of the Sentencing Code (maximum period of civilian conditional discharge).\n(3) An absolute discharge is an order discharging the offender absolutely.\n(4) Where by virtue of Schedule 3 a court sentences an offender by conditionally or absolutely discharging him, the sentence must not include any other punishment except a service compensation order , deprivation order or driving disqualification order.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 185(2)(b) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 25 para. 13 (with s. 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 185(4) inserted (1.5.2022 for specified purposes, 1.4.2023 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2021 (c. 35), s. 24(1), Sch. 6 para. 9; S.I. 2022/471, reg. 2(f); S.I. 2023/158, reg. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 185 restricted (27.11.2024 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 for E.W., 27.11.2024 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 in relation to specified areas, 5.3.2025 until the end of the specified period on 26.11.2025 in relation to the specified area, 11.3.2025 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 in relation to the specified areas, 28.4.2025 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 in relation to the specified areas) by Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17), ss. 39(7), 90(6); S.I. 2024/1191, regs. 1(2)(g), 2, 3(1)(2)(c) (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/261, regs. 1(2)(f), 2, 3 (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/319, regs. 1(2)(f), 2, 3 (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/515, regs. 1(3)(e)(f), 2 (with reg. 3) (as amended (21.11.2025) by S.I. 2025/1222, regs. 1(2), 2, 3, 4 and (25.3.2026) by S.I. 2026/342, regs. 1(2), 2, 3, 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 185 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 185 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/52/section/185",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:13:24.063324+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}