Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Fiscal fine" in English language version.
Introduced in 1995, fiscal fines involve the imposition of a financial penalty by procurators fiscal in absence of a formal admission of guilt.
The 'fixed penalty conditional offer' (fine) is an effective direct measure for less serious offences. The levels of fine are set by the Scottish Government and are currently £50, £75, £100, £150, £200, £250 and £300...The 'compensation offer' is an effective direct measure for offences where an individual has suffered loss. Compensation may be issued in respect of monetary loss, personal loss, or alarm or distress. The maximum level of compensation that can be offered is £3,000.
A fiscal fine is a form of deferred prosecution agreement in Scotland issued by a procurator fiscal for certain summary offences as an alternative to prosecution. The power to issue fiscal fines is conferred by section 50 of the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007. Doctors are required to notify us of fiscal fines under our reporting guidance.
...police and procurator fiscal 'direct measures' (DMs) introduced under SJR. These are alternatives to prosecution, which it is hoped will contribute to fewer minor cases going to court unnecessarily, freeing up the courts to deal with more serious cases (Scottish Government, 2007).
Overall the vast majority of Fiscal Fines for assaults were appropriate and proportionate especially looked at from the general principles of summary justice reform, in particular speedier disposal (most cases were dealt with within a few days of receipt from the police) and less inconvenience to witnesses etc.
Claims in the media that some sex offenders are being offered fiscal fines rather than face a court are unfounded, the Crown Office said today.
Last night Bill Aitken, Tory justice spokesman and chairman of the justice committee, said many offenders had no intention of paying. He said: "Why will they not arrange to take payments from benefits or salaries, thus ensuring that we get the money?"
The fiscal can also offer you the opportunity to pay compensation without the case going to court. This is called a compensation offer. The maximum compensation offer is £5000
The figures mean that the total of warning letters for non-payment of fiscal fines over the past four years was 189,256, with the annual total more than doubling.
