Section 57 Purposes of sentencing: adultsI1

(1)

This section applies where—

(a)

a court is dealing with an offender for an offence, and

(b)

the offender is aged 18 or over when convicted.

(2)

The court must have regard to the following purposes of sentencing—

(a)

the punishment of offenders,

(b)

the reduction of crime (including its reduction by deterrence),

(c)

the reform and rehabilitation of offenders,

(d)

the protection of the public F1(including victims of crime), and

(e)

the making of reparation by offenders to persons affected by their offences.

(3)

Subsection (1) does not apply—

(a)

to an offence in relation to which a mandatory sentence requirement applies (see section 399), or

(b)

in relation to making any of the following under Part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983—

(i)

a hospital order (with or without a restriction order),

(ii)

an interim hospital order,

(iii)

a hospital direction, or

(iv)

a limitation direction.

Annotations

F1: Words in s. 57(2)(d) inserted (22.3.2026) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 4(1), 49(4)