Community sentences

Offenders who are sentenced by courts to complete their orders within the community are supervised by an offender manager. An offender manager may also be involved with developing a support package providing help with housing, mental health, education and training and financial management.

As part of an order an offender will often be required to undertake demanding physical unpaid work, also referred to as Community Payback, which has proved effective in reducing reoffending.

In addition to unpaid work, offenders may also have to take part in programmes that address behavioural problems such as domestic abuse, substance misuse, drink driving and gambling.

By serving their sentence in the community, offenders are able to keep in touch with their families and retain their homes, both are factors that can help stop people from reoffending.