The proportion of community sentences in the Crown Court declined from 30 percent in 1995 to 27 percent in 1996 and then increased to 28 percent in 1998. In contrast, the proportion in magistrates’ courts was steady at 27-28 percent during 1994 and 1995 and increased slightly to 29 percent in 1996-98. Magistrates’ courts imposed 85 percent of all community sentences in 1998. The numbers sentenced to probation or a community service order for indictable offenses relating to violence against the person has doubled between 1988 and 1998. The Great Britain Home Office received reports of 314 serious incidents involving probationers; these incidents included murder, manslaughter, rape, arson, and other offenses. The average number of persons supervised per probation officer has increased from 20.7 in 1992 to 34.6 in 1998. Tables, figures, and reference notes