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 2014 | 91,313 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 90,348 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 89,862 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 86,354 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 78,876 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 75,971 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 62,006 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 64,907 |
Jan - Dec 2021 64,907
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022In the 12 months to Sep 2022 there were 64,090 offenders sentenced to immediate custody.
Data source Criminal justice system statistics quarterly
Published: 16 February 2023. Next publication: 18 May 2023 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to suspended sentence
| Period | Offenders sentenced to suspended sentence |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 52,979 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 57,072 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 56,401 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 53,262 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 42,699 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 39,885 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 35,954 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 44,478 |
Jan - Dec 2021 44,478
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022In the 12 months to Sep 2022 there were 41,724 offenders sentenced to a suspended sentence.
Data source Criminal justice system statistics quarterly
Published: 16 February 2023. Next publication: 18 May 2023 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to community sentence
| Period | Offenders sentenced to community sentence |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 112,638 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 114,286 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 103,250 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 95,639 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 91,423 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 87,328 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 61,073 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 71,138 |
Jan - Dec 2021 71,138
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022In the 12 months to Sep 2022 there were 69,493 offenders sentenced to a community sentence.
Data source Criminal justice system statistics quarterly
Published: 16 February 2023. Next publication: 18 May 2023 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to a fine
| Period | Offenders sentenced to a fine |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 853,336 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 891,922 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 913,152 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 904,892 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 929,866 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 926,993 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 616,193 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 736,892 |
Jan - Dec 2021 736,892
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022In the 12 months to Sep 2022 there were 789,896 offenders sentenced to a fine.
Data source Criminal justice system statistics quarterly
Published: 16 February 2023. Next publication: 18 May 2023 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.
| Period | Offenders sentenced to compensation order |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 6,230 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 5,239 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 4,744 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 4,920 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 5,008 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 4,589 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 3,534 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 3,878 |
Jan - Dec 2021 3,878
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022In the 12 months to Sep 2022 there were 3,501 offenders sentenced to a compensation order.
Data source Criminal justice system statistics quarterly
Published: 16 February 2023. Next publication: 18 May 2023 9:30am.
Offenders sentenced to other disposal
| Period | Offenders sentenced to other disposal |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 99,201 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 88,082 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 73,561 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 65,919 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 56,661 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 54,096 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 36,156 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 40,232 |
Jan - Dec 2021 40,232
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022In the 12 months to Sep 2022 there were 39,911 offenders sentenced to other disposals.
Data source Criminal justice system statistics quarterly
Published: 16 February 2023. Next publication: 18 May 2023 9:30am.
Average custodial sentence length (months)
| Period | Average custodial sentence length (months) |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 15.6 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 16.2 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 16.4 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 16.9 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 17.3 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 18.8 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 18.6 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 21.9 |
Jan - Dec 2021 21.9
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022In the 12 months to Sep 2022 the average custodial sentence length was 21.7 months.
Data source Criminal justice system statistics quarterly
Published: 16 February 2023. Next publication: 18 May 2023 9:30am.