Community Payback Orders
Community Payback Orders
Overview
A Community Payback Order (CPO) is a sentence given by a court that allows someone to remain in the community instead of going to prison.
It is used when the court believes that structured supervision, unpaid work or targeted support can
- help the person change their behaviour
- reduce the risk of further offending
- allow them to give something back to the community
A CPO helps people make positive changes while taking responsibility for their actions.
Before a CPO is given, the court will consider a Criminal Justice Social Work Report (CJSWR), prepared by justice social work.
A CPO usually lasts between 6 months and 3 years, depending on what the court decides.
Eligibility
A Community Payback Order may be imposed on
- people aged 16 and over
- people convicted of an offence where the court considers a community sentence appropriate
There is no upper age limit.
For individuals under 18:
- Supervision is always included
- The court may refer cases to the Children’s Hearing system instead
- In some cases, a CPO can be imposed alongside another sentence, such as a fine or electronic monitoring.
Signposting
For further information and support around Community Payback Orders, you can access the community directory or the Community Interventions and Support Directory - Community Justice Scotland.
Service specifics
CPO can include one or more requirements. The court decides what is included, based on the offence and the information in the Justice Social Work Report.
Common requirements include
- Supervision
- You will meet regularly with a social worker. They will support you to make changes and reduce the risk of further offending.
- Unpaid work or other activity
- You will complete between 20 and 300 hours of unpaid work or take part in other activities. This must be completed within a set time.
- Compensation
- You may be asked to pay money to a victim for loss or damage caused.
- Programme requirement
- You may be asked to take part in a structured programme to help address behaviour linked to offending.
- Mental health treatment
- You may be required to work with services for assessment or treatment.
- Drug or alcohol treatment
- You may be asked to attend support or treatment services.
- Residence requirement
- You may be required to live at a specific address.
- Conduct requirement
- You may need to follow specific rules, such as not contacting certain people or going to certain places.
- Restricted movement requirement (electronic monitoring)
- You may be required to stay at a specific address at certain times (for example overnight), or avoid certain places. This is usually monitored using an electronic tag.
Important information
- The court can include one or more of these requirements
- Some requirements must include supervision
- You must follow all conditions of your order
- If you do not comply, your case may be returned to court
- You will normally need to agree to a CPO before it is given (except in limited situations such as fine default)
Process
How a Community Payback Order works
- Court decision
- The court decides to impose a CPO after considering a report from justice social work
- First appointment
- You will be contacted and given details of your first meeting. At this appointment
- you will be told what is expected of you
- your appointments or unpaid work will be arranged
- you can discuss any support you need
- Planning
- A plan will be agreed with you. This will include
- your requirements
- any unpaid work
- support you may need
- how often you will meet with your worker
- Completion of requirements
- You must
- attend all appointments and unpaid work sessions
- follow any conditions set by the court
- Monitoring and review
- Your progress will be reviewed regularly. If you do not comply, your case may be returned to court