Tough community sentences can be more effective in reducing crime than a short spell in prison, according to a report published by justice minister David Hanson.
He was launching the document, 'Community Sentencing - Reducing Reoffending, Changing Lives', on Tuesday.
He said: "Prison is necessary to punish offenders and protect the public from serious sexual and violent offenders.
"The government will always ensure there are places available for those offenders.
"But it is not necessarily the best route for less serious offenders who may lose their job, their accommodation and their family ties after a short period of imprisonment.
"Avoiding these issues cuts the likelihood of reoffending on release, and in doing so cuts crime."
He went on: "The truth is that for many offenders, community sentences are more effective in cutting reoffending than short-term prison sentences and we need to ensure the public have confidence that this is fact."
It costs about £37,000 to lock up an offender for year.
Hanson said a three-year community order with supervision and 100 hours of unpaid was a "tough sentence".
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd