Binding-Over Order

For minor offences, the Magistrate can delay a sentence for a set period of time.  As long as the defendant is not brought to the attention of the Court during this period, the matter is closed. This is called a Binding-Over Order.

If the person is brought back to the Court during the set period, the offences for which the Binding-Over Order was put in place would be re-sentenced.

A variation on a Binding-Over Order is when the defendant is required to leave the island for a fixed period of time, normally 3 years.  At the end of this period, the person can return to the island.

This is a voluntary sentence as the defendant has to agree to the terms of the Binding Over Order.

Jersey residents can have such a sentence passed on them, although in practice this rarely happens.