What a Community Payback Order is
A Community Payback Order (CPO) is a community based sentence imposed by the court. It orders one or more requirements to a person convicted of an offence to both payback to the community and address their behaviour.
These are significant sentences and can be imposed for a maximum of 3 years.
This order contains a number of possible requirements, each offering the offender the opportunity to change their behaviour, protect the public and promote payback and rehabilitation.
Requirements of a Community Payback Order
Courts can impose one or more of 10 requirements as part of a Community Payback Order.
These include:
- Offender Supervision - the offender must meet with a social worker for a specified period between 6 months and 3 years. A full assessment will be completed, and a management plan will be created to address the issues and the risk of reoffending
- Unpaid work or other activity - the offender must ‘pay back’ the communities they have harmed by completing unpaid work of between 20 to 300 hours. the other activity gives them the opportunity to develop skills through education or training, to support their reintegration into the community
- Compensation – the offender must pay a financial amount to the victim of their offence
- Residence – the offender must stay at a specific address
- Programme – the offender must take part in a planned set of activities to address their behaviour. This could be part of a group or individual basis
- Mental health treatment – is directed if the offender has been diagnosed with a mental health condition or learning disability that contributes to their behaviour
- Drug treatment – is directed when an offender’s behaviour is found to be connected to drug dependency, and where a Drug Testing and Treatment Order is not suitable
- Alcohol treatment - is directed when an offender’s behaviour is found to be connected to alcohol dependency
- Conduct - where the courts specify the offender to do or not do something to reduce their risk of offending
- Restricted movement – such as a home curfew or electronic tagging.
If you fail to meet the requirements of a Community Payback Order
When a person starts a Community Payback Order, they will meet with a social worker who will fully explain its requirements.
If you fail to meet the requirements, our justice social work staff must inform the court.
This could lead to the court imposing different actions on you, including a custodial sentence.
More information
If you want to find out more or discuss what services are available to you, contact our justice social work service by: