Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

55.   Community based sentence

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    (1)   A community based sentence includes —

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      (a)     a level two diversion option under paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of Schedule 4;

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      (b)     placement under a supervision and guidance order in the prescribed form for a period not exceeding three years;

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      (c)     in cases that warrant the specialized intervention, referral to counselling or therapy in conjunction with an option under paragraph (a) for a period of time as the Court considers necessary;

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      (d)     if the child is over the compulsory school age, and is not attending formal schooling, compulsory attendance at a specified centre or place for a specified vocational or educational purpose, for a period not exceeding twelve months and for no more than thirty-five hours per week;

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      (e)     performance of community service work under the supervision or control of a specified person or institution identified by the Court for a maximum period of two hundred and fifty hours and which must be completed in twelve months;

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      (f)     committing the child to the care of a fit person, whether a relative or not, who consents to undertake the care of the child;

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      (g)     ordering the parent of the child to enter into a recognisance for the good behaviour of the child; and

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      (h)     any other sentence, subject to section 54, which is appropriate to the circumstances of the child and which, if it includes a period of time, shall not exceed twelve months.

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    (2)   The consent of a person to undertake the care of a child under an order made under subsection (1)(f) shall be provided in a manner the Court determines sufficient.

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    (3)   Before a child from the age of twelve years to fourteen years is sentenced under subsection (1)(e), the Court shall consider the age, development and compulsory school attendance of the child.