{"metric":"average_custodial_sentence_length_months","title":"Average custodial sentence length (indictable offences)","topic":"crime","unit":"months","measure_type":"estimate","geography":"K04000001","comparison_method":"year_on_year","latest":{"period_start":"2025-04-01","period_end":"2026-03-31","period_label":"Year ending March 2026","value":22.3,"status":"final","vintage":"2026-07-30"},"comparison":{"period_label":"Year ending March 2025","value":22.1,"vintage":"2026-07-30"},"source":{"publisher":"Ministry of Justice","publication":"Criminal justice statistics quarterly: overview tables","landing_url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics","sheet":"Q5_2c","table":"Table Q5.2c","row":"Offence type=Indictable; Offence group=Indictable offences total","column":"2026","raw_value":"22.3","file_url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a689d0654d4ae70b6d5c298/overview-tables-March-2026.ods","file_sha256":"60c19d2d5ff2446d61a6196c6b6c8e3aa4dd211e6c455b13c5c68445892b591a","release_date":"2026-07-30","release_label":"Year ending March 2026"},"definition":"The average (mean) length in months of immediate custodial sentences imposed for indictable offences at criminal courts in England and Wales in the twelve months ending March.","does_not_measure":"Life and other indeterminate sentences, sentences recorded as 60 years or more, or sentences for summary offences; nor time actually served.","links":{"page":"/crime/average-custodial-sentence-length","series":"/api/metrics/average_custodial_sentence_length_months/series","vintages":"/api/metrics/average_custodial_sentence_length_months/vintages"}}