The Suspended Sentence Order In England And Wales

By Eleanor Curzon and Julian V. Roberts

When a sentence of imprisonment is imposed many people assume that the offender will immediately be admitted to a prison. However, a court can suspend a sentence of imprisonment, allowing the offender to serve their sentence of imprisonment in the community rather than in a prison.

If the sentence of imprisonment is suspended, the offender usually has to comply with a set of requirements, and noncompliance (or further offending) may result in committal to prison.

A suspended sentence thus provides sentencers with a sentencing option which carries, or should carry, the ‘penal weight’ of imprisonment, yet without requiring the offender to enter a prison.

Read the full report here.