Dr Geraldine O’Hare of Probation Board of Northern Ireland writes about the piloting of an intensive community sentence.

We asked a panel of leading experts in the field what they think needs to happen to promote the use of community sentences.

Stephen Whitehead, who leads our work on community sentences, discusses what we have learnt looking at the probation work done in the court.

Durham Tees Valley Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) has worked with local National Probation Service (NPS) staff to support the use of community sentences by embedding a Probation Service Officer (PSO) in the NPS Court team.

This report explores what has changed in the relationship between sentencers and probation services over the past five years and provides recommendations for change.