The following table shows the average custodial sentence length (ACSL) in months imposed for 2000 to 2006. The figures given are for all offences at all courts and exclude life and indeterminate sentences.
ACSL 2000 11.4 2001 11.8 2002 12.6 2003 12.6 2004 12.9 2005 12.6 2006 12.4
On average prisoners serve half the time they are sentenced to.
The following table shows the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody for three months or less. It also shows the proportion of those persons sentenced to immediate custody who received three months or less.
Number given custody Up to and including three months Proportion (Percentage) 1997 93,841 35,054 37 1998 100,566 39,427 39 1999 105,323 43,059 41 2000 106,187 41,585 39 2001 106,273 40,884 38 2002 111,607 42,542 38 2003 107,670 40,754 38 2004 106,322 39,707 37 2005 101,236 37,100 37 2006 96,017 34,712 36
The following table shows the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody for six months or less. It also shows the proportion of those persons sentenced to immediate custody who received six months or less.
Number given custody Up to and including six months. Proportion (percentage) 1997 93,841 57,271 61 1998 100,566 63,741 63 1999 105,323 69,262 66 2000 106,187 70,099 66 2001 106,273 69,914 66 2002 111,607 71,961 64 2003 107,670 70,252 65 2004 106,322 68,199 64 2005 101,236 63,856 63 2006 96,017 59,134 62