Probation and Community Sentencing

What are community sentences?

When someone is convicted of a criminal offence, the court has several sentencing options available. A prison sentence is not always appropriate, and courts will often consider alternatives that allow the offender to remain in the community while still facing meaningful consequences for their actions.

Community sentences sit between a fine and a custodial sentence in terms of severity. They require the offender to comply with certain conditions while living at home and, in most cases, continuing with work or family responsibilities. The aim is to help the offender change their behaviour, keep the public safe, and cut down the chances of further offences.

The two main types of community sentences are the Community Order and the Suspended Sentence Order. Both were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and continue to be significant options in how courts may deal with offences that are serious but do not necessarily require immediate imprisonment.

Sentence Guide

Wondering what sentence to expect? Tell us the offence and circumstances and get a plain English guide to the likely sentencing range and what factors affect it.

Try our Sentence Guide free, here on this site →

Community Orders and Suspended Sentence Orders

A Community Order can be given for offences that are punishable by imprisonment. The court attaches one or more requirements that the offender must complete. These requirements are tailored to the individual and the nature of their offence.

Common requirements include:

• Unpaid work, sometimes called community service, for up to 300 hours under current guidelines
• A curfew, often monitored by an electronic tag
• Drug or alcohol treatment programmes
• Mental health treatment
• Supervision by a probation officer
• Attendance at specified activities or programmes
• Exclusion from certain places
• A residence requirement specifying where the offender must live

A Suspended Sentence Order is different. This is where the court passes a prison sentence but suspends it for a set period, typically between six months and two years. During this time, the offender must comply with requirements similar to those attached to a Community Order. If they breach these conditions or commit another offence, the court can activate the original prison sentence in full or in part.

The specific requirements attached to either order depend on the offence, the offender's circumstances, and what the court considers most likely to prevent further offending. Sentencing guidelines help judges and magistrates decide which requirements are appropriate in each case.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

The role of the Probation Service

The Probation Service, which operates as part of His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), manages community sentences. Following a restructure in 2021 that unified the former National Probation Service with Community Rehabilitation Companies, probation officers now supervise offenders, monitor their compliance with court requirements, and provide support to help them move away from criminal behaviour.

If you receive a Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order with a supervision requirement, you will be assigned a probation officer. You will need to attend regular appointments and may be required to take part in programmes designed to address the factors behind your offending. This could include courses on thinking skills, managing anger, or dealing with substance misuse.

Probation officers also prepare pre-sentence reports for the court before sentencing. These reports give the judge or magistrate information about the offender's background, circumstances, and the likelihood of different sentences being effective.

Since the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 came into force in February 2015, anyone serving a custodial sentence of more than one day is subject to at least 12 months of supervision upon release. This period of supervision is intended to help with reintegration into the community and reduce the risk of reoffending.

What happens if you breach a community sentence?

Failing to comply with the requirements of a Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order is taken seriously. If you miss appointments, fail to complete unpaid work, or break other conditions, your probation officer can initiate breach proceedings.

The court then decides what action to take. Options include issuing a warning, adding further requirements to the order, or imposing a more severe sentence. For a Suspended Sentence Order, this may mean serving some or all of the original prison term.

The response depends on the nature and seriousness of the breach. A single missed appointment might be treated differently from persistent non-compliance or committing a new offence.

If you are facing sentencing or have questions about community sentences, current guidelines and detailed information are available on GOV.UK. Sentencing Council guidance also sets out how courts approach these decisions.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Sentence Guide lets you wondering what sentence to expect? Tell us the offence and circumstances and get a plain English guide to the likely sentencing range and what factors affect it. Try it now →