Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for which (a) offence and (b) offences each current prisoner serving a sentence of six months or less was imprisoned.
We have interpreted this question to mean the main offence of prisoners serving a sentence of six months or less.
The offence(s) for which each prisoner serving a sentence of six months or less was imprisoned, as at 31 December 2018, can be viewed in the table. The most common offence was shoplifting.
Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, who take into account all circumstances of the case, including any aggravating and mitigating factors. We are clear that sentencing must match the severity of a crime. We will always hold in prison those criminals whose offences are so grave that no other penalty will suffice.
However, sentences should also rehabilitate. There is persuasive evidence showing community sentences, in certain circumstances, are more effective than short custodial sentences in reducing reoffending. The MoJ study ‘The impact of short custodial sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’ published in 2015 found that over a 1-year follow up period, a higher proportion of people re-offended having been sentenced to custody of under 12 months without supervision on release than other similar people given community orders.
Unless we tackle the underlying causes of offending, we cannot protect the public from being victims of crime. Effective community orders can address offenders’ behaviour, answer their mental health and alcohol or drug misuse needs, and provide reparation for the benefit of the wider community.