Community payback order (CPO)

A community payback order is a community sentence with requirements such as unpaid work or social work supervision.

A community payback order (CPO) is Scotland's main community sentence, made under section 227A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, often instead of imprisonment. It can include one or more requirements: unpaid work or other activity, from 20 to 300 hours; supervision by a criminal justice social worker; paying compensation; attending a programme, for example on domestic abuse; mental health, drug or alcohol treatment; living at a specified address; a conduct requirement; or a restricted movement requirement monitored by an electronic tag. The court normally obtains a criminal justice social work report first. If the person fails to comply without a reasonable excuse, they can be brought back to court, which can vary the order, add requirements, or revoke it and impose another sentence, including imprisonment.

Checked as at 25 September 2026. General information only, not legal advice.