Deck 27: Non-Custodial Sentencing

Question 1

Which of the following best describes non-custodial sentences?

A) A sentence that never involves any form of being kept in custody
B) A sentence provided by a court that is not a prison sentence
C) A sentence that involves going to prison
D) A sentence is given outside of court

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of the main sentences available to courts?

A) Fine
B) Absolute discharge
C) Suspended sentence of imprisonment
D) Simple caution

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Of the following sentences, which is considered the most punitive?

A) Compensation order
B) Conditional discharge
C) Community order
D) Fine

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following best describes Suspended Sentence orders?

A) A sentence that is legally custodial but can be served in the community if none of the conditions is breached
B) A sentence in which nothing is required of the offender, but if another offence is committed within a certain time frame the offender will be sentenced according to the new offence and the previous one
C) A sentence in which an offender must pay a monetary sum to the court
D) A sentence in which the offender is ordered by the court to pay a specified sum of money to the victim

Question 5

Which of the following are NOT features of a Community Order?

A) A sentence served in the community made up of a number of potential requirements an offender must meet
B) The offender must spend a small amount of time in custody
C) The maximum length of three years
D) Mandatory to have a punitive requirement

Question 6

Which non-custodial sentence is the most commonly used in the crown court?

A) Suspended sentence order
B) Community order
C) Fine
D) Absolute discharge

Question 7

Which sentence is most commonly used by magistrates courts?

A) Suspended sentence order
B) Community order
C) Fine
D) Absolute discharge

Question 8

What are the main assumptions underlying the belief that non-custodial sentences are a 'soft option'?

A) The probation service has been restructured often
B) Fines can be very punitive
C) Non-custodial sentences are typically cheaper
D) Prison is the only option that can truly punish offenders

Question 9

In what way could non-custodial sentences be considered to NOT be more effective than a custodial sentence?

A) Cost
B) Association with violent harms
C) The potentially non-comparative nature of recidivism rates
D) Recidivism rates

Question 10

Currently, which type of offence is a community order typically used for?

A) Indictable offences
B) Summary offences
C) Either way offences
D) Offences not brought to court