Suspended sentence order

A prison sentence you do not serve straight away, provided you do not reoffend and you complete any requirements set by the court.

A suspended sentence order is a prison sentence that is not served immediately. The court suspends it for an operational period, during which you must not commit another offence, and it can add community requirements such as unpaid work or a curfew. Under the Sentencing Act 2026, for people convicted on or after 22 March 2026, a prison term of up to three years (previously two) can be suspended, with an operational period of up to two years, or three years if the term is over two years. Courts must also suspend prison terms of 12 months or less unless an exception applies, such as a breach of a court order, a significant risk of harm to a particular person, or exceptional circumstances. If you reoffend or breach the requirements, the court will usually order the prison term to take effect in full or in part.

Checked as at 25 September 2026. General information only, not legal advice.