The criminal justice act 1991: Principal provisions and their effects on psychiatric practice

Abstract

The main provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 came into effect on 1 October 1992. The Act contains the most radical reform of the criminal justice system in the last 20 years. The effects will be widespread and involve sentencing policy, the parole system, probation, fines, the treatment of young offenders and the privatization of various parts of the system including prisons and escort services. The Act was in response to a number of factors including increasing crime rates, governmental desire to be seen to be tough on crime, the increasing prison population and the rejection of the rehabilitative ideal and general deterrence theory. In addition there has been longstanding disquiet with the system of parole and the treatment of young people within the penal system.