The following table gives the number of convictions, the number sentenced to immediate custody, the average custodial sentence length (in months) and the number given the maximum sentence for violent offences.
Violent offences include the offence classifications of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery. When sentencing convicted offenders, judges and magistrates take account of the characteristics of the offender including age, previous convictions and characteristics in terms of seriousness and the degree of culpability.
Data cover the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
2004 2005 2006 Number convicted 2,308 2,280 2,606 Number sentenced to immediate custody1 510 517 648 Average custodial sentence length (in months)2 25 26 26 Number given the maximum sentence 16 17 15 1 The number sentenced to immediate custody includes those given life imprisonment or a juvenile justice centre order. 2 The average custodial sentence lengths exclude life sentences and juvenile justice centre orders.