Pre-sentence options
Bail
Following arrest and appearance at Court, the Court may deem an individual suitable to be released to a named address until a further appearance at Court, instead of being remanded in prison. In some situations bail may be refused.
Inverclyde Criminal Justice Service may be requested to undertake a bail assessment which would involve interviewing the individual to discuss current circumstances including family, social, employment and accommodation details.
Diversion
Diversion permits the Procurator Fiscal Service to divert an individual from prosecution when it is not in the public interests to do so.
The Procurator Fiscal Service can request a Diversion assessment report be undertaken. If suitable for Diversion, Inverclyde Criminal Justice Service can work with an individual for up to three months to address the factors associated with offending, during which time the Procurator Fiscal Service will defer a decision on whether to prosecute pending the outcome of this intervention.
Fiscal Work Order
A Fiscal Work Order (FWO) permits the Procurator Fiscal Service to divert an individual from prosecution by directing them to undertake between ten to fifty unpaid work hours within a specified time period. Unpaid Work is managed by the Unpaid Work team of Inverclyde Criminal Justice Service.
If the hours are not completed, or the level of work undertaken satisfactory, then the Prosecutor Fiscal can take the decision to prosecute the individual for the offence.