The Criminal Justice Act 1991 came into force in October 1992 and was the first major review of criminal justice legislation since 1982. It aimed to provide a new coherent sentencing framework based on the principle of just deserts with only the most serious of offences being punished with imprisonment. Less serious offences were to be dealt with by means of three other categories of disposals: discharges (for the bulk of minor offences), financial penalties and community sentences.