Criminal justice system statistics quarterly: September 2014
Trends in activity in the criminal justice system.
Documents
Details
We are planning to make changes to this publication and a consultation on ‘Changes to criminal justice statistics’ publication was held between 20 November 2014 and 22 January 2015.
Response to consultation on changes to Criminal justice statistics publication
The report presents key statistics on activity in the criminal justice system (CJS) for England and Wales. It provides information for the latest 12 months (October 2013 to September 2014) with accompanying commentary, analysis and presentation of longer term trends.
Key findings
Number of individuals formally dealt with by the CJS is lowest on record (1970 to date).
- The use of out of court disposals is now less than half of the peak, in year ending September 2007 and decreased 16% in the latest year.
- Conviction ratio has remained relatively stable since year ending September 2009 (following on from an increase in the 5 years preceding this). In latest year it was 83% compared to 82% in previous year.
- Average Custodial Sentence Length continues to increase since September 2006. In the latest period it was 15.8 months compared with 12.3 months in year ending September 2006.
- Immediate custody rate for indictable offences (just under 28%) is highest in decade and has increased in each of the last four years.
- Number of first time entrants formally dealt with by CJS continues to decline. 52% decline since year ending September 2007.
- Number of offenders with no previous convictions or cautions sentenced for indictable offences has increased by 4% in 12 months ending September 2014.
- 18% increase in latest year in number of adult offenders given suspended sentences despite 15+ previous cautions or convictions.
- Prosecutions for sexual offences are the highest in the decade and increased by 11% in the latest year.
The bulletin is produced and handled by the ministry’s analytical professionals and production staff. Pre-release access of up to 24 hours is granted to the following persons.
Ministry of Justice
Secretary of State for Justice; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation; Minister of State for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for the Courts and Legal Aid; Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties; Permanent Secretary; 2 Special Advisors; 2 Director Generals; Director Crime; Director, Analytical Services; Chief Statistician; Director, Sentencing and Rehabilitation; Senior Policy Official, Sentencing; Policy Official, Sentencing; Policy Official, Out of court disposals; Policy Official, Youth Justice; Head of News; 3 press officers; 2 private secretaries; 8 assistant private secretaries.
Home Office
Home Secretary; Permanent Secretary; Director of Crime; 1 press officer; Chief Statistician; policy official, Policing and Crime; 1 private secretary.
The Judiciary
Lord Chief Justice; Head of Lord Chief Justice’s Criminal Justice Team.
Other
Policy Official, Attorney Generals Office; Policy Advisor, Cabinet Office.