OpenLegislation

Crime (Sentences) Act 1997

1997 c. 43 · Enacted 21 March 1997 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 28 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 June 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 8(5)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 143
s. 11(6)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 143
s. 28—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 136(a)(b)
s. 28—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 8
s. 28(1B)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 147
s. 31(2A)(a)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 4(a)(b) (2)
s. 33(1) (2)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 137(a)
s. 33(5)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 137(b)
s. 34—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 8
s. 34(1)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 138
s. 35(1)(b)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 139(a)
s. 35(5)(c)s. 35(8)(a)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 139(b)
s. 40(1)(b)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 140
s. 54(1)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 141
s. 57(8)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 142
Sch. 5 para. 5—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 8
Sch. 5 para. 5(1)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 144
Sch. 4 para. 2(1)(4)repealedArmed Forces Act 2001 Sch. 7 Pt. 2
s. 55(2)repealedArmed Forces Act 2001 Sch. 7 Pt. 2
Sch. 4 para. 3(1)(4)repealedArmed Forces Act 2001 Sch. 7 Pt. 2
Sch. 4 para. 1(1)(4)repealedArmed Forces Act 2001 Sch. 7 Pt. 2
s. 35repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 s. 303(b)(iii) Sch. 37 Pt. 7
s. 40repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 s. 303(b)(iii) Sch. 37 Pt. 7
s. 28(7)(c)words substitutedCriminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 s. 11(1)
s. 34AinsertedVictims and Prisoners Act 2024 s. 69
s. 32ZZA(3A)insertedVictims and Prisoners Act 2024 s. 58(5)
s. 32ZAC(1)power to amend or apply conferred by 2012 c.10, s. 128(3A) (as inserted)Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 s. 60(3)
s. 32ZAB(1)(fa)insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 Sch. 11 para. 8

An Act to make further provision with respect to the treatment of offenders; and for connected purposes.

[21st March 1997]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part I
  2. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  3. 2Mandatory life sentence for second serious offence.
  4. 3Minimum of seven years for third class A drug trafficking offence.
  5. 4Minimum of three years for third domestic burglary.
  6. 5Appeals where previous convictions set aside.
  7. 6Certificates of convictions for purposes of Part I.
  8. 7Offences under service law.
  9. Part II: Effect of custodial sentences
  10. Chapter I: Determinate sentences
  11. General
  12. 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  13. 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  14. 9A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  15. Early release
  16. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  17. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  18. 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  19. 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  20. Additional days
  21. 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  22. 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. Supervision after release
  24. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  25. 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  26. 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  27. Special cases
  28. 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  29. 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  30. 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  31. 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  32. 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  33. 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  34. 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  35. Supplemental
  36. 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  37. 27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  38. Chapter II: Life sentences
  39. Sentence of detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure: review of minimum term
  40. 27ASentence of detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure imposed on a person under 18: application for minimum term review
  41. 27BPower of High Court to reduce minimum term
  42. Release on licence
  43. 28Duty to release certain life prisoners.
  44. 28ZAPublic protection decisions
  45. 28AMurder or manslaughter: prisoner's non-disclosure of information
  46. 28BIndecent images: prisoner's non-disclosure of information
  47. 29Power to release other life prisoners. Repealed
  48. 30Power to release life prisoners on compassionate grounds.
  49. Licences and recall
  50. 31Duration and conditions of licences.
  51. 31AImprisonment or detention for public protection: termination of licences
  52. 32Recall of life prisoners while on licence.
  53. 32ZZAImprisonment or detention for public protection: powers in relation to release of recalled prisoners
  54. 32ZAOffence of remaining unlawfully at large after recall
  55. Referral of release decisions to High Court
  56. 32ZAAReferral of release decisions to High Court
  57. 32ZABSpecified offences
  58. 32ZACPowers of the High Court
  59. Release at the direction of Parole Board
  60. 32ZBRelease at direction of Parole Board: timing
  61. Persons liable to removal from the United Kingdom
  62. 32ARemoval of prisoners liable to removal from United Kingdom
  63. 32BRe-entry into United Kingdom of offender removed from prison
  64. Miscellaneous and supplemental
  65. 33Life prisoners transferred to England and Wales. Repealed
  66. 33ALife prisoners also serving fixed-term sentence
  67. 34Interpretation of Chapter II.
  68. Part III: Miscellaneous and supplemental
  69. Community sentences
  70. 35Fine defaulters: general.
  71. 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  72. 37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  73. 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  74. Driving disqualifications
  75. 39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  76. 40Fine defaulters.
  77. Transfer and repatriation of prisoners
  78. 41Transfer of prisoners within the British Islands.
  79. 42Repatriation of prisoners to the British Islands.
  80. Young offenders
  81. 43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  82. 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  83. 45Publication of reports.
  84. Mentally disordered offenders
  85. 46Power to make hospital and limitation directions.
  86. 47Power to specify hospital units.
  87. 48Offenders conditionally discharged from hospital.
  88. 49Other amendments of the 1983 Act.
  89. Miscellaneous
  90. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  91. 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  92. 52Increased penalty for offence of indecency with children. Repealed
  93. Supplemental
  94. 53Financial provisions.
  95. 54General interpretation.
  96. 55Minor and consequential amendments.
  97. 56Transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
  98. 57Short title, commencement and extent.
  99. Schedule 1: Transfer of prisoners within the British Islands
  100. Part I: Powers of transfer
  101. Transfer of prisoners: general
  102. 1Paragraph 1
  103. Transfer of prisoners for trial
  104. 2Paragraph 2
  105. Transfer of prisoners for other judicial purposes
  106. 3Paragraph 3
  107. Transfer of supervision of released prisoners
  108. 4Paragraph 4
  109. Conditions of transfers
  110. 5Paragraph 5
  111. Conditions of transfer under paragraph 1(2A)
  112. 5AParagraph 5A
  113. Part II: Effect of transfers
  114. Preliminary
  115. 6Paragraph 6
  116. Restricted transfers: general
  117. 7Paragraph 7
  118. Restricted transfers from England and Wales to Scotland
  119. 8Paragraph 8
  120. ...
  121. 8AParagraph 8A Repealed
  122. Restricted transfers from England and Wales to Northern Ireland
  123. 9Paragraph 9
  124. Restricted transfers from Scotland to England and Wales
  125. 10Paragraph 10
  126. Restricted transfers from Scotland to Northern Ireland
  127. 11Paragraph 11
  128. Restricted transfers from Northern Ireland to England and Wales
  129. 12Paragraph 12
  130. Restricted transfers from Northern Ireland to Scotland
  131. 13Paragraph 13
  132. Restricted transfers between the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands
  133. 14Paragraph 14
  134. Unrestricted transfers: general
  135. 15Paragraph 15
  136. Transfers ceasing to be restricted
  137. 16Paragraph 16
  138. Part III: Supplemental
  139. Prisoners unlawfully at large
  140. 17Paragraph 17
  141. Subsequent sentence in case of transferred prisoners
  142. 18Paragraph 18
  143. Application to the Isle of Man
  144. 19Paragraph 19
  145. Service of process issued in Scotland
  146. 19AParagraph 19A
  147. ...
  148. 19BParagraph 19B Repealed
  149. Interpretation
  150. 20Paragraph 20
  151. Schedule 2: Repatriation of prisoners to the British Islands
  152. Preliminary
  153. 1Paragraph 1
  154. Prisoners repatriated to England and Wales
  155. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  156. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  157. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  158. Prisoners repatriated to Scotland
  159. 5Paragraph 5
  160. 6Paragraph 6
  161. 7Paragraph 7
  162. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  163. Prisoners repatriated to Northern Ireland
  164. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  165. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  166. Prisoners repatriated to the Islands
  167. 11Paragraph 11
  168. Schedule 3: Transfers within the British Islands of responsibility for offenders conditionally discharged from hospital
  169. Part I: Amendments of the 1983 Act
  170. Transfers from England and Wales to Scotland
  171. 1Paragraph 1
  172. Transfers from England and Wales to Northern Ireland
  173. 2Paragraph 2
  174. Transfers from Northern Ireland to England and Wales
  175. 3Paragraph 3
  176. Transfers from England and Wales to the Islands
  177. 4Paragraph 4
  178. Transfers from the Islands to England and Wales
  179. 5Paragraph 5
  180. Part II: Amendments of the 1984 Act
  181. Transfers from Scotland to England and Wales
  182. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  183. Transfers from Scotland to Northern Ireland
  184. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  185. Transfers from Northern Ireland to Scotland
  186. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  187. Transfers from the Islands to Scotland
  188. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  189. Transfers from Scotland to the Islands
  190. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  191. Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments
  192. Army Act 1955 (c.18)
  193. 1Paragraph 1
  194. Air Force Act 1955 (c.19)
  195. 2Paragraph 2
  196. Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c.53)
  197. 3Paragraph 3
  198. Children and Young Persons Act 1963 (c.37)
  199. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  200. Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c.80)
  201. 5Paragraph 5
  202. Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (c.19)
  203. 6Paragraph 6
  204. Immigration Act 1971 (c.77)
  205. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  206. Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (c.62)
  207. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  208. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c.53)
  209. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  210. Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c.43)
  211. 10Paragraph 10
  212. Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c.48)
  213. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  214. Mental Health Act 1983 (c.20)
  215. 12Paragraph 12
  216. Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c.33)
  217. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  218. Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 (c.4)
  219. 14Paragraph 14 Not yet in force
  220. Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c.53)
  221. 15Paragraph 15
  222. Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 (c.9)
  223. 16Paragraph 16
  224. Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c.33)
  225. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  226. Schedule 5: Transitional provisions and savings
  227. Sentences for offences committed before the commencement of Chapter I of Part II
  228. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  229. Consecutive sentences for offences committed before and after that commencement
  230. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  231. Concurrent sentences for offences committed before and after that commencement
  232. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  233. Crediting of periods of remand in custody
  234. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  235. Duty to release certain life prisoners
  236. 5Paragraph 5
  237. Life prisoners transferred to England and Wales
  238. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  239. Recall of life prisoners while on licence
  240. 7Paragraph 7
  241. Transfers of prisoners: general
  242. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  243. Transfers of prisoners from England and Wales to Scotland
  244. 9Paragraph 9
  245. Transfers of prisoners from England and Wales to Northern Ireland
  246. 10Paragraph 10
  247. Transfers of prisoners from Scotland to England and Wales
  248. 11Paragraph 11
  249. Transfers of prisoners from Scotland to Northern Ireland
  250. 12Paragraph 12
  251. Interpretation
  252. 13Paragraph 13
  253. Schedule 6Repeals