A programme of work undertaken with an offender which is designed to tackle the reasons or behaviour which leads to his or her offending. Examples of offending behaviour programmes are; substance-related offending, drink impaired drivers, aggression replacement therapy, sex offender treatment programme, integrated domestic abuse programme.

Application to a higher court or authority for review of a decision made by a lower court or authority. This can be a review regarding the severity of sentence or conviction as a whole.

The court takes no further action against an offender, but the offender’s discharge will appear on their criminal record.

Bail is a temporary release from the authority of the police or court which can be granted prior to or during a court hearing. Bail can be unconditional or conditional. If there is a risk that a suspect may commit another crime, fail to turn up at court, intimidate you or other witnesses, or obstruct the course of justice, the police or the court c [..]

Non-statutory warning given to adults (18+) by the police, following admission of guilt, as an alternative to prosecution, which though not a conviction forms part of a person’s criminal record.

Community sentences are sentences of the court which deal with the offender in the community rather than in prison. These include community punishment, community rehabilitation orders and drug treatment and testing orders.

A curfew order is similar to ‘house arrest’. People must stay indoors, usually at their home, for the curfew period. A tag, worn on the ankle or wrist, notifies monitoring services if the offender is absent during the curfew hours.

The offender is found guilty of the offence, and the conviction appears on his or her criminal record, but either no further action is taken at all (absolute discharge), or no further action is taken as long as the offender does not offend again in a certain period of time (conditional discharge).

A sentence for drug users who receive treatment for their drug use and have to give regular urine tests to make sure they are not using drugs.

A prisoner serving a sentence of between eight months and four years can be released up to 90 days early under strict curfew arrangements and wearing an electronic tag.