Community sentences have been proven to be both punishing and effective in reducing crime - this makes them much more appropriate for some offences.  For many offenders, Community Orders are tougher than a prison sentence because they are made to face the consequences of their actions. They may also allow an offender to keep their job, retain family ties and their home - all crucial factors in preventing re-offending.

There are two main types of community sentence:

• Community Order
• Suspended Sentence

Community Order

Since April 2005, courts have been using a new single Community Order which comes with a range of possible requirements. The court decides the length of the Community Order.  The order can last for a maximum of three years. 

To the Community Order, sentencers can add additional requirements that the offender must comply with. The requirements will differ according to the individual offender and the offence committed.

There are twelve requirements that can be added to the order.

• Unpaid work - the number of hours must be specified between 40 and 300 and should normally be completed within 12 months.  Unpaid Work Leaflet (PDF). [1]

• Specified activity - (eg basic reading and writing skills) - not available in Surrey.  Specified Activity Leaflet (PDF). [2]

• Programmes - aimed at changing offending behaviour.  Accredited programmes     are designed to address the attitudes and patterns of behaviour that contribute to offending.  Programmes Leaflet (PDF). [3]

• Prohibited Activity - offender must refrain from specified activity on a specific day. or days.  Prohibited Activity Leaflet (PDF). [4]

• Exclusion - prohibits offender from entering specified location.  Not available in Surrey.  Exclusion Leaflet (PDF). [5]

• Curfew (usually with electronic monitoring or ‘tagging') - the offender must remain for certain periods at a specific place. Curfew Leaflet (PDF). [6]

• Residence Requirement - the offender must live in a specified place. Residence Requirement Leaflet (PDF). [7]

• Mental Health Treatment - the court must be satisfied that the mental condition of the offender is such as requires and may be susceptible to treatment.  The offender's consent is required. Mental Health Treatment Leaflet (PDF). [8]

• Drug Rehabilitation Requirement - the offender is required to have treatment to reduce or eliminate dependency on or propensity to misuse drugs and provide samples for testing, whether or not s/he has any drug in his/her body.  The offender's consent is required.  Drug Rehabilitation Requirement Leaflet (PDF). [9]

• Alcohol Treatment - the offender is required to attend treatment to reduce or eliminate dependency on alcohol.  The offender's consent is required.  Alcohol Treatment Leaflet (PDF). [10]

• Supervision - requires the offender to attend appointments with the National Probation Service or other nominated person approved by them. Supervision Leaflet (PDF). [11]

• Attendance Centre (for under 25s) - the offender must attend at an attendance centre for between 12 and 36 hours.  Not available in Surrey.  Attendance Centre Leaflet (PDF). [12]

Supervision forms part of the community order in the majority of cases.  For cases of low seriousness the order will usually contain just one requirement.  For more serious cases the order could contain three or four.

Suspended Sentence

This is generally ordered for offences that the court considers ‘so serious' that only prison is appropriate.  The offender can be sentenced to custody for between 28-51 weeks.  However, this can be suspended for a period of between 6-24 months.  The offender is then supervised by the probation service and can receive requirements as per the community order.  If the offender re-offends or breaches the order they can go straight to prison.

Approved Premises

Formally known as bail and/or probation hostels, their core purpose is the provision of enhanced supervision as a contribution to the management of offenders who pose a significant risk of harm to the public. This is achieved by close work between hostel staff, offender managers and other agencies including the police, prison service, treatment providers and the community.  

Approved Premises are not permanent homes for offenders.  They are used in the rehabilitation of the residents to enable them to successfully resettle back into society.  This is achieved through a structured regime which includes an overnight curfew, strict rules in relation to substance misuse and attendance at sessions with their hostel keyworker and groupwork programmes.  Offenders will also report to their supervising officers, now known as Offender Managers, as required by probation service national standards.  Any failure to comply with their licence, community sentence, bail conditions or hostel rules leads to swift enforcement action which could result in recall to prison, revocation of the community sentence, or withdrawal of bail.

Without Approved Premises and positive interventions there would be no facilities for those offenders who require more help to live successfully and safely within the community.  Approved Premises are used for offenders who require closer daily supervision by probation staff.