Everything you want to know about probation
The most up-to-date data
This is the latest in my new series of compendiums of the latest data and trends in the criminal justice system. Following compendiums on prisons, sentencing, and offender equalities, this edition focuses on probation.
For the best experience, click through the visualisation at the bottom of this page, this allows you to hover over data points and see the exact data. If you can’t see the visualisation below on your device, you can find it here.
Topics covered include:
- The type of offences people are on probation for
- The decline of community sentences over the last decade
- Caseload figures (including changes in different forms of supervision)
- The offence profile of people on community supervision
- A breakdown of the popularity of different requirements on community orders and suspended sentence orders
- Successful completion rates (and reasons for termination) for community supervision
- The spectacular drop in the number of full Pre-Sentence reports
I hope you find them of use and interest.
Compendium last updated 3 December 2020
Criminal Justice Trends
Click below for up-to-date interactive charts using the latest official data.
Offender equalities
A wide range of prison statistics broken down by gender, ethnicity and age.
Probation
The latest caseload figures and trends, offender profiles and court reports.
Prison
Details of individual establishments, costs, population trends and safety in custody stats.
Sentencing
Compare sentencing outcomes, lengths and reoffending rates and index offences.
Recent Probation Posts
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New HMI Probation research summary on building social capital to support the desistance process.
Prison and Probation commit to digital future
HMPPS sets out bold digital strategy for 2021/22
Supporting the desistance of children
Probation inspectors’ research on how best to support the desistance of children subject to court orders.
The needs of pregnant women in contact with the criminal justice system
Clinks and Birth Companions report into the needs and experiences of pregnant women and new mothers in contact with the criminal justice system in the community.
New providers of rehabilitative services announced
Lisa Smitherman, Director of Justice Catch22, asks whether new plans for rehabilitation and resettlement signal a move away from prison as the default.
Pre-sentence report pilot
The MoJ has announced a pre-sentence report pilot in 15 magistrates’ courts.
Staffing main concern over probation reunification
Probation reforms broadly on track but some concerns persist around staffing and services.
What information do you need to do your job?
Let the Butler Trust know what types of prison, probation & youth justice information you’d like to see on their Knowledge Exchange site.
New paraphilia scale for sexual offences
New HMPPS scale of general paraphilia to be used with men convicted of sexual offences found to be a reliable predictor.
MPs want to limit future probation caseloads
Justice Committee’s report on the future of the probation service recommends a caseload limit of 50.
Home Detention Curfews under-used
Prison Reform Trust briefing finds the benefits of the Home Detention Curfew scheme are hampered by overly restrictive criteria and inefficient systems.
How do we treat our peer mentors?
Findings from a major survey of service user volunteers in the UK.
