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 | 90,871 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 83,346 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 77,215 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 60,947 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 64,215 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 64,835 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 71,745 |
Jan - Dec 2023
71,745
Update Mar 2024
In the 12 months to Mar 2024, 72,713 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: 15 August 2024.
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 | 44,418 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 40,371 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 36,097 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 43,333 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 40,952 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 43,734 |
Jan - Dec 2023
43,734
Update Mar 2024
In the 12 months to Mar 2024, 44,255 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: 15 August 2024.
Offenders sentenced to community sentence
| Period | Offenders sentenced to community sentence |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 149,691 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 123,340 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 109,407 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 110,753 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 99,858 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 96,558 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 92,073 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 87,684 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 62,246 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 71,242 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 69,689 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 70,664 |
Jan - Dec 2023
70,664
Update Mar 2024
In the 12 months to Mar 2024, 71,676 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: 15 August 2024.
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 | 905,957 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 932,003 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 936,833 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 625,086 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 735,413 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 834,615 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 886,190 |
Jan - Dec 2023
886,190
Update Mar 2024
In the 12 months to Mar 2024, 899,495 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: 15 August 2024.
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 2012 | 7,146 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 9,325 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 6,230 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 5,239 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 4,744 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 3,729 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 3,631 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 3,340 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 2,472 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 2,825 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 2,911 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 3,557 |
Jan - Dec 2023
3,557
Update Mar 2024
In the 12 months to Mar 2024, 3,835 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: 15 August 2024.
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 | 101,393 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 100,954 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 90,472 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 75,696 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 61,898 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 53,185 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 50,717 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 33,895 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 36,641 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 34,555 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 37,780 |
Jan - Dec 2023
37,780
Update Mar 2024
In the 12 months to Mar 2024, 38,725 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: 15 August 2024.
Average custodial sentence length (months)
Excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
| Period | Average custodial sentence length (months) |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 14.5 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 15.5 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 15.6 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 16.2 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 16.4 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 17.8 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 18.5 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 18.6 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 17.1 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 20.7 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 20.3 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 20.9 |
Jan - Dec 2023
20.9
Update Mar 2024
In the 12 months to Mar 2024, the average length of a custodial sentence was 20.6 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: 15 August 2024.