Prison overcrowding is at a record level with capacity at more than 125%.
Almost 600 prisoners are sleeping on mattresses.
With 10% of those sentenced serving a term of 12 months or less, the Government says it is committed to introducing a greater use of community sanctions in a bid to reduce reoffending and divert people away from imprisonment.
PACE, Prisoners Aid through Community Effort, is a charity that works with former prisoners and those serving community service orders. It is funded by The Probation Service.
The Criminal Law and Civil Law Bill, published in January, could result in legislation obliging the courts to consider community service in…