The Sentencing Council has published today (25 October 2016) updated guidance for courts about the process that should be followed when deciding whether offenders should be given community or custodial sentences.
The Imposition of community & custodial sentences: Definitive guideline comes into force on 1 February 2017, and will be incorporated into the online Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines then.
In the meantime the guideline is available here.