Community sentencing is a way to pay back society for the crime you have committed.
It is based on punishing the offender, changing their behaviour, and compensating for the crime.
Community punishments may also address personal issues which led to the offence, such as drug addiction.
The four main types of community sentence are:
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A Community Punishment Order, where you will have to complete a specified number of hours of unpaid work for the community. If you have a job, you will be expected to complete the community work during your own time.
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A Community Rehabilitation Order, where you will be under the supervision of a probation officer for the duration of the order.
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An Attendance Centre Order, where you will have to complete certain activities under the supervision of an attendance centre officer.
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A Drug Treatment and Testing Order, which you can be ordered to complete if you have a drug problem. During the order, you will be required to undergo treatment.
Following the reform of sentences, courts are now able to create a bespoke community order which is most appropriate for the individual offender and the crime. There are a range of conditions that can be imposed, and you may be ordered to serve more than one.
These include:
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Compulsory work (unpaid)
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Programmes aimed at changing offending behaviour
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Participation in community activities
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Prohibition from specified activities
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Exclusion from specified areas
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Curfew
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Residence requirement
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Drug treatment and testing (with offender’s consent)
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Alcohol treatment (with offender’s consent)
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Mental health treatment (with offender’s consent)
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Supervision
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Attendance
Failure to comply with the conditions of the sentence could mean you are ordered back to court for re-sentencing or fined for the breach.