Numbers remanded in and sentenced to custody keep growing

Remands

You possibly can see the developments in remands during the last 5 years from the chart reproduced above. Within the 12 months ending September 2024, there was a slight improve within the proportion of defendants remanded in custody throughout every stage of court docket proceedings, and a rise within the general quantity of custodial remand.

A complete of 1.31 million defendants have been directed to look at magistrates’ courts by prosecuting authorities. The proportion of defendants held in custody elevated barely from 8% within the 12 months ending September 2023 to 9% within the newest 12 months.

At magistrates’ courts, the quantity of these remanded in custody elevated by 26% to round 68,000 in comparison with the earlier 12 months (54,000) – this stays broadly secure at round 5% of all defendants handled on the magistrates’ courts. Of the defendants remanded in custody at magistrates’ courts within the newest 12 months, 13% acquired a direct or suspended custodial sentence and an extra 71% have been despatched for trial or sentencing at Crown Courtroom.

On the Crown Courtroom the quantity of defendants remanded in custody elevated by 15% to round 55,000 in comparison with the earlier 12 months (48,000) and is the very best quantity seen throughout the final decade. As a proportion of defendants handled this remained unchanged at 52%. Defendants handled for indictable offences are extra typically remanded in custody for causes such because the severity of offence, danger of additional offending and probability of failing to look in court docket.

Of these remanded in custody on the Crown Courtroom, 78% have been issued a direct or suspended custodial sentence – in comparison with 54% of these bailed.

Sentencing

The common custodial sentence size (ACSL) fell again barely to twenty.1 months. This lower in ACSL was primarily pushed by a rise within the proportion of custodial sentences accounted for by theft offences, which are a magnet for shorter sentences. The biggest will increase in ACSL have been for sexual offences (up 3.2 months) and drug offences (up 2.5 months).

The variety of offenders sentenced to rapid custody elevated by 8% in comparison with the earlier 12 months, from 71,000 to 77,000 within the 12 months to September 2024, with notable will increase seen for theft (27%) and public order offences (20%).

The scale of those will increase in individuals each remanded in and sentenced to custody exhibits why the MoJ forecasts such a giant improve in our jail inhabitants – to 100,800 by 2029.

Due to Andy Aitchison for sort permission to make use of the header picture on this put up. You possibly can see Andy’s work right here