{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-sentences-act-1997/section-34",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-sentences-act-1997/section-34.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1997/43",
  "legislation_title": "Crime (Sentences) Act 1997",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-sentences-act-1997",
  "path": "section/34",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "34",
  "heading": "Interpretation of Chapter II.",
  "text": "(1) In this Chapter “life prisoner” means a person serving one or more life sentences and includes a transferred life prisoner as defined by section 273 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003; ...\n(2) In this section “life sentence” means any of the following imposed for an offence, whether committed before or after the commencement of this Chapter, namely—\n(a) a sentence of imprisonment for life;\n(b) a sentence of detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure or for life under section 90 or 91 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 or section 250 or 259 of the Sentencing Code; and\n(c) a sentence of custody for life under section 93 or 94 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, under section 272 or 275 of the Sentencing Code (including a sentence passed as a result of section 217 of the Armed Forces Act 2006) or under section 210A of the Armed Forces Act 2006.\n(d) a sentence of imprisonment or detention in a young offender institution for public protection under section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (including one passed as a result of section 219 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, ...\n(e) a sentence of detention for public protection under section 226 of that Act (including one passed as a result of section 221 of the Armed Forces Act 2006).\n(f) a sentence of detention for life under section 209 of the Armed Forces Act 2006;\n(g) a sentence under section 218 of that Act (detention at Her Majesty's pleasure).\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 34(1) inserted (18.12.2003) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 273(4), 336(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in s. 34(1) repealed (30.11.2000 with effect as mentioned in Sch. 7 para. 145 and notes to Sch. 8 of the repealing Act) by 2000 c. 43, ss. 74, 75, 80(3)(d), Sch. 7 Pt. II para. 138, Sch. 8"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 34(2)(3) substituted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165, 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 183(2)(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 34(2)(b) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 146(a) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 34(2)(c) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 146(b) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 34(2)(d)(e) inserted (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 18 para. 3; S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 40 (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 34(2)(d) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 117(10)(b), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 34(2)(d) inserted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 16 para. 142(2)(a); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Word in s. 34(2)(d) repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 34(2)(e) inserted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 16 para. 142(2)(b); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "S. 34(2)(f)(g) added (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 16 para. 142(2)(c); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "S. 34(3) repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 16 para. 142(3), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "S. 34(4) omitted (28.6.2022) by virtue of Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 144(1)(c), 208(5)(p)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 34: exercise of functions restricted in or as regards Scotland (30.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1748, art. 8(2), Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 34(1) extended (18.12.2003) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(2), Sch. 22 para. 17"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 34(2) modified (24.4.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1059), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 40"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": null,
      "affecting": "ukpga/2000/43",
      "affecting_title": "Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000"
    },
    {
      "type": null,
      "affecting": "ukpga/2000/43",
      "affecting_title": "Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000"
    },
    {
      "type": null,
      "affecting": "ukpga/2000/43",
      "affecting_title": "Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/43/section/34",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:24:59.837778+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "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."
}