CHANGES IN THE USE OF IMPRISONMENT IN ENGLAND AND WALES 1950-1991

Analysis of trends in the use of custody in England and Wales between 1950 and 1990 was undertaken. It shows an initially steep decline, fol lowed by a period of increase at a slower rate, followed in recent yea rs by a downturn in severity. These trends are not an artefact of chan ges in crime mix or of changes in the use of cautions. These analyses complement recent cross-national work to call into question assertions that contemporary England and Wales makes exceptionally great use of custodial sentences.