{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020/section-61",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020/section-61.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2020/17",
  "legislation_title": "Sentencing Act 2020",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sentencing-act-2020",
  "path": "section/61",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "61",
  "heading": "Sentencing guidelines: extended sentences , serious terrorism sentences and life sentences",
  "text": "Extended sentence: determination of appropriate custodial term\n(1) Subsection (2) applies where a court is considering whether to impose an extended sentence for an offence.\n(2) In determining the appropriate custodial term for the purposes of section 256(2), 268(2) or 281(2) (extended sentence for certain violent, sexual or terrorism offences), section 60 applies to the court as it applies to a court in determining the sentence for an offence.\nSerious terrorism sentence: determination of appropriate custodial term\n(2A) Subsection (2B) applies where a court is required to impose a serious terrorism sentence for an offence.\n(2B) In determining the appropriate custodial term for the purposes of section 268C(2)(b) or 282C(2)(b) (serious terrorism sentences: appropriate custodial term exceeding 14-year minimum), section 60 applies to the court as it applies to a court in determining the sentence for an offence.\nLife sentence for second listed offence: determination of sentence condition\n(3) Subsection (4) applies where a court is considering whether to impose a sentence under section 273 or 283 (life sentence for second listed offence) for an offence.\n(4) In determining, for the purpose of deciding whether the sentence condition in section 273(4) or 283(4) is met, the sentence that it would have passed as mentioned in that condition, section 60 applies to the court as it applies to a court in determining the sentence for an offence.\nNotional determinate term for non-fixed life sentence\n(5) Subsection (6) applies where a court imposes a non-fixed life sentence for an offence.\n(6) Section 60 applies to the court in determining the notional determinate sentence within the meaning of section 323 (minimum term order for non-fixed life sentence).\n(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(8) In this section “non-fixed life sentence” means—\n(a) a sentence of imprisonment for life (other than a sentence fixed by law),\n(b) a sentence of detention for life under section 250, or\n(c) a sentence of custody for life under section 272.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 61(2A)(2B) and heading inserted (29.6.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(2)(v), Sch. 13 para. 11(4)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 61(6) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 129(3)(a)(i), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(n)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 61(7) omitted (28.6.2022) by virtue of Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 129(3)(a)(ii), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(n)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 61 heading inserted (29.6.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(2)(v), Sch. 13 para. 11(4)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 61 in force at 1.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "word omitted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2020/17",
      "affecting_title": "Sentencing Act 2020"
    },
    {
      "type": "words omitted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2020/17",
      "affecting_title": "Sentencing Act 2020"
    },
    {
      "type": "words omitted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2020/17",
      "affecting_title": "Sentencing Act 2020"
    },
    {
      "type": "word inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2020/17",
      "affecting_title": "Sentencing Act 2020"
    },
    {
      "type": "omitted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2020/17",
      "affecting_title": "Sentencing Act 2020"
    },
    {
      "type": "words omitted by virtue of 2020 c. 17, Sch. 22 para. 38(aa) (as inserted)",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2021/11",
      "affecting_title": "Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/17/section/61",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:00:57.370248+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."
}