Section 1 introduces a presumption to suspend short custodial sentences of 12 months or less, unless an offender has breached an order of the court, or where there is a significant risk of harm to an individual, or in exceptional circumstances which would not justify passing a suspended sentence.
	Schedule 1 makes amendments consequential on the new provision for the presumption to suspend short custodial sentences of 12 months or less.
	Section 2 extends the availability of suspended sentences so that a court can suspend a custodial sentence of up to 3 years and prevents Extended Determinate Sentences and Sentences for Offenders of Particular Concern from being suspended.
Overview of the Act Part 1: Sentencing Suspended sentences