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Community sentences - what they are

Community sentences are given to people who are convicted of a crime but who do not go to prison. A community sentence:

• is a punishment that’s carried out in the community
• is intended to benefit the local community - for example, by getting you to do unpaid ‘Community Payback’ work, like removing graffiti
• aims to help you get away from crime

Types of crime that can lead to a community sentence

You may be given a community sentence if you commit a crime like:

• stealing a vehicle
• damaging property
• benefit fraud
• threatening behaviour
• assault (attacking someone)

Why you may get a community sentence

A court looks at several things when deciding what sentence to give. The most important is how serious the crime was.

A community sentence will be considered if:

• the court thinks you’re more likely to stop committing crime if you have a community sentence than if you go to prison
• it’s the first time you have committed a crime
• you have a mental health condition, or an addiction (for example, to drugs) that affects your behaviour

Types of community sentence

You could be ordered to do any of the following as part of a community sentence. They are called ‘requirements’.

Community Payback - unpaid work

You may be ordered to do unpaid work like removing graffiti and clearing overgrown pathways. See ‘Doing Community Payback’ to find out more.

• Doing Community Payback

Job and educational training

Training courses can improve skills like reading and writing. Other courses can help with applying for jobs and learning new skills.

See ‘Treatment and training programmes on a community sentence’ to find out more.

• Treatment and training programmes on a community sentence

Treatment programmes

You may have to complete a treatment programme – for example, to deal with drug or alcohol misuse, or a mental health condition.

See ‘Treatment and training programmes on a community sentence’ to find out more.

• Treatment and training programmes on a community sentence

Restrictions - what you can and can’t do

You may be restricted in what you can do. For example, having to follow a ‘curfew’ (having to stay at a particular place at certain times) or being electronically monitored (also called ‘tagged’).

See ‘What you can and can't do when on a community sentence’ to find out more.

• What you can and can't do when on a community sentence

Supervision while on a community sentence

You might also be given a ‘supervision requirement’. For example, you may be ordered to have regular meetings with an offender manager.

The offender manager helps you complete your sentence and get away from crime.

See ‘Offender managers - how they can support you’ to find out more.

• Offender managers - how they can support you

If you break the terms of your community sentence

If you break the terms of your community sentence, for example, by not meeting with your offender manager, you could be sent back to court. You could be given more punishment and even be sent to prison.

• What happens if you break the terms of your probation

Community sentences - how long they last

Community sentences vary in length depending on how serious the crime is. The judge (or magistrate) will decide at the court hearing.

For example, if you are sentenced to do Community Payback, you can expect to complete anything from 40 to 300 hours of unpaid community work.

If you’re sentenced to be on a curfew, it could last for up to six months.

A period of supervision with an offender manager can last for up to three years.

See ‘How court sentences are worked out’ for more information on how a court reaches a decision.

• How court sentences are worked out

More useful links

• Your neighbourhood, roads and streets (home and community section)