Following conviction
The following information relates to offenders over the age of 16. For Youth offending, please see Youth offending - general information
Sentencing options
When a Sheriff or Judge seeks to know more information about an offender, they may seek a Criminal Justice Social Worker to write a Criminal Justice Social Work Report. If a person is going to jail for the first time, or the court is seeking to impose a community service or probation order, a Criminal Justice Social Work Report must be required.
Following consideration of the Criminal Justice Social Work Report, the Judge, Sheriff or Justice of the Peace will impose a sentence the offender to jail, or one of a number of disposals.
Disposals available prior to 1st February 2011
If an offender committed an offence prior to 1st February 2011, they could be compelled to undertake one or more of the following disposals:
- probation
- community service
- drug testing and treatment order
- mandatory supervised attendance order
- custody
Disposals available on or after 1st February 2011
If an offender committed an offence on or following 1st February 2011, they could be compelled to undertake one or more of the following disposals:
- unpaid work (formerly referred to as community service)
- community payback order
- drug testing and treatment order
- custody
You can find us on: