Community Orders are an alternative to prison sentences or fines. They were introduced in April 2005, replacing all previous community sentences.
A community order can have up to 12 components or “requirements”, which allow judges or magistrates to tailor-make a sentence for each offender, to maximise the public protection and rehabilitative effect of the sentence.
The 12 requirements sentencers can choose from are:
- Community Payback (compulsory unpaid work)
- Accredited programmes, aimed at changing offenders’ thinking and behaviour.
- Exclusion from certain areas.
- Residence
- Mental health treatment
- Drug rehabilitation
- Alcohol treatment Supervision
- Curfew
- Prohibition from taking part in certain activities.
- Participation in specified activities, such as improving basic skills including reading, writing and numeracy.
- Attendance Centre
Most of these requirements are available in Norfolk, but currently Norfolk Probation Area is unable to offer Attendance Centre requirements as there are no local centres.
