How will I be sentenced?
If the verdict of the magistrate, jury or judge alone (in terrorist cases) is a finding of not guilty, then you will be free to go. If however you are convicted, then a plea in mitigation will be made in an attempt to minimise the sentence. Credit may be given for an early plea of guilty or any other factor in favour of your good character.
The court may impose one of the following sentences:
- custodial sentence
- probation order
- community service order
- combination order
- custody probation order
- juvenile justice centre order
- life sentence licence
- sex offender licence
- GB transfer licence
In deciding the most appropriate sentence, the courts will always have regard to the criminal record, if any, of a defendant. The Judge or Magistrate will also ask the Probation Service to prepare a Pre Sentence Report (PSR) to help them make a decision about the most suitable type of sentence.