Sentence types
The volume and complexity of offending patterns when reporting on all offences for which each individual is prosecuted and sentenced is too great for meaningful commentary throughout the publication of these data. For this reason, unless otherwise stated, each offender is reported only against the most severe sentence or order given for their principal offence (i.e. the principal sentence).
For futher information, please refer to the technical guide which accompanies the linked publication(s).
Offenders sentenced to immediate custody
| Period | Offenders sentenced to immediate custody |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 98,044 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 92,966 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 91,313 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 90,348 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 89,862 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 90,869 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 83,348 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 77,214 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 60,947 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 64,220 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 64,853 |
Jan - Dec 2022
64,853
Update June 2023
In the 12 months to June 2023 66,945 offenders were sentenced to immediate custody.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal justice system statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 19 March 2024. Next publication: 16 May 2024 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to suspended sentence
| Period | Offenders sentenced to suspended sentence |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 44,643 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 48,765 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 52,979 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 57,072 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 56,401 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 55,732 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 44,416 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 40,369 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 36,096 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 43,332 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 40,977 |
Jan - Dec 2022
40,977
Update June 2023
In the 12 months to June 2023 40,925 offenders were sentenced to immediate custody.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal justice system statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 19 March 2024. Next publication: 16 May 2024 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to community sentence
| Period | Offenders sentenced to community sentence |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 149,691 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 123,344 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 109,408 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 110,753 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 99,858 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 96,558 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 92,071 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 87,681 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 62,245 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 71,239 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 69,691 |
Jan - Dec 2022
69,691
Update June 2023
In the 12 months to June 2023 68,436 offenders were sentenced to community sentence.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal justice system statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 19 March 2024. Next publication: 16 May 2024 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to a fine
| Period | Offenders sentenced to a fine |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 823,290 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 799,747 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 853,336 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 891,922 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 913,152 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 905,953 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 932,002 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 936,423 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 624,383 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 735,379 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 833,544 |
Jan - Dec 2022
833,544
Update June 2023
In the 12 months to June 2023 864,410 offenders were sentenced to a fine.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal justice system statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 19 March 2024. Next publication: 16 May 2024 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to compensation order
A criminal compensation order (CCO) requires a person convicted of an offence to pay money to the victim of that offence for personal injury, loss or damage arising from it. The underlying purpose of a CCO is that offenders pay for the damage that they have caused, as a form of reparation.
Jan - Dec 2022
2,911
Update June 2023
In the 12 months to June 2023 3,229 offenders were sentenced to compensation order.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal justice system statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 19 March 2024. Next publication: 16 May 2024 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to other disposal
Other disposals include restriction orders, hospital orders, guardianship orders, police cells, and other disposals.
| Period | Offenders sentenced to other disposal |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 105,238 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 101,343 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 100,896 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 90,418 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 75,643 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 61,714 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 53,046 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 50,426 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 33,827 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 36,576 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 34,467 |
Jan - Dec 2022
34,467
Update June 2023
In the 12 months to June 2023 35,707 offenders were sentenced to other disposal.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal justice system statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 19 March 2024. Next publication: 16 May 2024 9:30am.
Average custodial sentence length (months)
Excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
Jan - Dec 2022
20.3
Update June 2023
In the 12 months to June 2023 the average length of a custodial sentence was 20.4 months.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal justice system statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 19 March 2024. Next publication: 16 May 2024 9:30am.