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

Insights into the prison and probation services
HMPPS Insights brings people together from across the Criminal Justice System to learn, share, connect and celebrate excellence & innovation.

Smarter Community Sentences
The Centre for Justice Innovation argues for smarter community sentences which give probation practitioners more powers, freedom and flexibility.

How to review serious further offences
HMI Probation effective practice guide on how to conduct serious further offence reviews.

Fairer and more effective resettlement
Nacro briefing on a justice system fit for the future: lessons from the coronavirus pandemic to build a fairer and effective path to resettlement.

Concerns over probation pre-sentence reports
HMI Probation research into pre-sentence information and advice highlights concerns about oral reports.

Maximising positive mental health for people on probation
Charlie Brooker & Coral Sirdifield on maximising positive mental health outcomes for people on probation.

Most women have no settled home on release from prison
New IMB report finds short sentences, patchy support and housing shortages cause ‘maximum disruption and minimum rehabilitation’ for women.

Coronavirus exacerbates offender housing problems
Steve Matthews of Shelter guest posts on housing problems for people on probation.

10 things I learnt from the 2020 HMPPS annual digest
Interesting facts and figures from this year’s HMPPS annual digest.

What is it like being in prison or probation during lockdown?
User Voice report on how people in prison and on probation have experienced lockdown.

Probation to recruit 1,000 new officers
Probation workforce strategy sets out five key objectives for new re-nationalised service.

Ten new things about the parole board
The parole board’s annual report for 2019/20 throws up some surprising facts and figures.