Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2019/20: main findings

Main findings from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2019/2020, including self-completion findings covering the period 2018/19 to 2019/20.


Table A1.23: Proportion of adults who were very or fairly confident in aspects of the criminal justice system

Proportion of adults who were 'very' or 'fairly' confident that the criminal justice system 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2012/13 2014/15 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 Percentage point change
since 2008/09* since 2018/19
Is effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice 53% 53% 56% 57% 60% 63% 62% 62% 61% ↑ by 8 No change
Deals with cases promptly and efficiently 35% 38% 42% 43% 43% 47% 44% 45% 41% ↑ by 6 ↓ by 4
Makes sure everyone has access to the justice system if they need it 70% 71% 73% 76% 76% 75% 75% 76% 75% ↑ by 6 No change
Makes sure the system isn't different depending on where you live in Scotland 54% 55% 57% 64% 66% 63% 62% 63% 62% ↑ by 8 No change
Makes fair, impartial decisions based on the evidence available N/A N/A N/A 70% 72% 73% 74% 72% 72% ↑ by 2 No change
Adequately takes into account the circumstances surrounding a crime when it hands out sentences N/A N/A N/A 55% 57% 60% 61% 60% 60% ↑ by 4 No change
Allows all victims of crime to seek justice regardless of who they are N/A N/A N/A 66% 68% 69% 68% 67% 67% No change No change
Allows all those accused of crimes to get a fair trial regardless of who they are N/A N/A N/A 77% 77% 78% 77% 76% 77% No change No change
Provides victims of crime with the services and support they need N/A N/A N/A 52% 55% 57% 56% 55% 54% ↑ by 3 No change
Provides witnesses with the services and support they need N/A N/A N/A 55% 56% 59% 58% 58% 57% No change No change
Treats those accused of crime as innocent until proven guilty N/A N/A N/A 74% 72% 72% 74% 72% 73% No change No change
Gives sentences which fit the crime N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 38% 37% 35% ↓ by 4 No change
Gives punishments which fit the crime N/A N/A N/A 32% 36% 39% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Provides a good standard of service for victims of crime 38% 41% 45% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Provides a good standard of service for witnesses 43% 45% 49% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Number of respondents 16,000 16,040 13,010 12,050 11,470 5,570 5,480 5,540 5,570

1 Some of these questions were only included since 2012/13 or the question wording was updated in 2012/13. One further amendment was made in 2017/18 (i.e. 'gives punishments which fit the crime' has become 'gives sentences which fit the crime' since 2017/18).

* or first time the question was included.

Contact

Email: scjs@gov.scot

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