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The community order and the suspended sentence order three years on

On 2 March 2009, the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (CCJS) at King's College London published a report (The community order and the suspended sentence order three years on) which argues that government attempts to slow a rapidly rising prison population by a reformed and credible community sentences framework have largely failed.

The report assesses the impact of both orders three years on from their implementation. Its findings are based on an analysis of government statistics relating to the use of the two orders plus interviews with 25 probation staff and 16 people subject to the orders.

The report concludes that the current community sentencing framework appears to be contributing to ongoing prison expansion, not slowing or reversing its growth. Specifically, the report looks at:

• Trends in the use of the orders and their requirements to date.
• Probation officers’ views and experiences about how the orders are working, including issues such as enforcement practice and breach, and the impact of recent changes on the management of community-based orders.
• What those on orders think of the order they are subject to, including whether and what difference it has made for them.

The community order and the suspended sentence order three years on: the views and experiences of probation officers and offenders