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<p>For those offenders sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence of six months
or less between 1<sup>st</sup> January 2017 and 30<sup>th</sup> September 2018, 339
offenders had 20 previous custodial sentences of six months or less, 20 offenders
had 50 previous custodial sentences of six months or less and 1 offender had 100 previous
custodial sentences of six months or less.</p><p>There is a strong case to abolish
sentences of six months or less, with some exceptions. We are exploring options to
restrict the use of short custodial sentences, but we have not at this stage reached
any conclusions.</p><p>There is persuasive evidence showing community sentences, in
certain circumstances, are more effective than short custodial sentences in reducing
reoffending. The MoJ study ‘The impact of short custodial sentences, community orders
and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’ published in 2015 involved around 350,000
sentencing occasions over 4 years and used 130 different variables to construct matched
groups of offenders and examine the effect of short sentences relative to community
sentences. This study found a reduction of around 3 percentage points in proven reoffences
if offenders receiving sentences of less than 12 months were to get a community order
instead. This is statistically significant and equates to around 30,000 proven reoffences
in total over a one-year period. This means fewer victims of crime.</p><p>Unless we
tackle the underlying causes of offending, we cannot protect the public from being
victims of crime. Effective community orders can address offenders’ behaviour, answer
their mental health and alcohol or drug misuse needs, and provide reparation for the
benefit of the wider community.</p>
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