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Produced by the Sentencing Academy

Prison Sentences of 12 Months or Less

Key Facts and Statistics

by Annalena Wolcke

Last updated: Sep 2025

Download as Infographic

Fact 1

49,647

PEOPLE RECEIVED SHORT PRISON SENTENCES (OF 12 MONTHS OR LESS) IN 20241

Fact 2

Short prison sentences make up

4%

of all primary
sentences imposed in
England & Wales

62%

of all prison
sentences in
England & Wales

Fact 3

Breakdown of Sentence Lengths, 2024

Fact 4

Most common offences leading to
prison sentences of 12 months or less

Individuals
sentenced in 2024
1. Theft from a shop11,012
2. Assault of an emergency
worker		3,106
3. Common assault and battery3,077
4. Breach of Restraining Order2,654
5. Burglary (in a building other than a dwelling)2,429
6. Knife possession (having an article with a blade or point in public)2,326

Fact 5

61%
of all women

and

77%
of all men

sentenced to prison received a short prison sentence in 2024

Fact 6

Re-offending Rates (2023)

For all sentences: 27%2

For prison sentences ≥12 months: 21%

For prison sentences <12 months: 60%

For prison sentences ≤6 months: 63%

Note: The MoJ defines reoffending as any offence committed in a one-year follow-up period that leads to a court conviction, caution, reprimand, or warning.

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This infographic is one of a series on sentencing trends in England & Wales. Others can be found here. For further information, contact Annalena Wolcke at a.wolcke@sentencingacademy.org.uk

  1. Facts 1-5: Data calculated from: Ministry of Justice (2025), Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly: December 2024, published 15th of May. Outcomes by offence data tool, Table 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2024. ↩︎
  2. Fact 6: Data calculated from Ministry of Justice (2025). Proven reoffending statistics: October to December 2023, published 30th of October. Proven reoffending tables (3 monthly), October 2023 to December 2023, Table C2a.
    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/proven-reoffending-statistics-october-to-december-2023. ↩︎