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PRISON STATISTICS SCOTLAND, 2002
1. Introduction
This bulletin on Scottish prison statistics forms part of The Scottish Executive Justice Department series of bulletins on aspects of the criminal justice system.
We have again presented figures on the average daily population of prisoners and the number of receptions. This information is disaggregated by age, gender, sentence type, sentence length and main crime. Details and historical figures are included in the Annex. This year we have reflected the change from prisoner security category to prisoner supervision level following the implementation of a new Prisoner Supervision System on 1 April 2002.
Detailed tables can be found in the Appendix and explanations of the terms and classifications used throughout the bulletin are provided in the Annex.
Chart 1 Average daily prison population, 20 th - 21 st Century
3. Main points
- In 2002, the average daily population in Scottish prisons totalled 6,404, an increase of 4 per cent when compared with the 2001 figure of 6,137 and again the highest annual level ever recorded.
- In 2002, the average daily female prison population increased from 249 in 2001 to 277, an increase of 11 per cent. Most of this increase occurred in the average daily female remand population which increased from 59 in 2001 to 79 in 2002.
- The average daily remand population in 2002 was 1,222, an increase of 27 per cent when compared with the total figure of 960 in 2001. This accounts for the vast majority of the increase in the total average daily population recorded between 2001 and 2002.
- The average population of sentenced young offenders was 597 in 2002, a decrease of 8 per cent compared with the 2001 figure of 650.
- The number of long-term adult prisoners, those sentenced to 4 years or more (including recalls), increased by 3 per cent from 2,409 in 2001 to 2,487 in 2002.
- The number of short-term adult prisoners, those sentenced to less than 4 years (excluding fine defaulters), increased by 1 per cent from 2,022 in 2001 to 2,038 in 2002.
- The number of receptions for persons who were imprisoned for defaulting on payment of a fine fell from 7,216 in 2001 to 7,074 in 2002.
4. Commentary
Prison population
Total average daily population
In 2002, the average daily population in Scottish prisons totalled 6,404, an increase of 4 per cent when compared with the 2001 figure of 6,137 and again the highest annual level ever recorded. Over the ten year period, 1993 - 2002, the average daily prison population has increased by 14 per cent. In the same ten year period the female prison population has increased by 62 per cent; over four times the growth experienced in the male prison population (12 per cent). In 2002, the average daily female prison population increased from 249 in 2001 to 277, an increase of 11 per cent. Most of this increase occurred in the average daily female remand population which increased from 59 in 2001 to 79 in 2002.
Chart 2 Average daily prison population, by category of prisoner
Remand population
The average daily remand population in 2002 was 1,222 (1,143 males and 79 females) an increase of 27 per cent when compared with the total figure of 960 in 2001. This accounts for the vast majority of the increase in the total average daily prison population recorded between 2001 and 2002. Young offender remand numbers increased by 13 per cent from 242 in 2001 to 274 in 2002, while adult remand numbers increased by 32 per cent to 947.
Looking at differences between types of remand, the majority (91 per cent) of the increase in 2002 was due to a rise in the average daily population of untried prisoners, which increased by 28 per cent from 843 in 2001 to 1,081. The average daily population of those prisoners who were convicted awaiting sentence increased by 21 per cent to 141 in 2002.
Fine default population
Although fine defaulters make up a large proportion of prison receptions, they represent only a very small proportion of the average daily prison population because they spend only a short time in prison. In 2002, the average population of fine defaulters was 61, compared to 62 in 2001.
Sentenced population
The average population of sentenced young offenders was 597 in 2002, a decrease of 8 per cent compared with the 2001 figure of 650. The number of male sentenced young offenders fell from 623 to 577 in 2002 and the number of female sentenced young offenders decreased from 27 in 2001 to 20 in 2002.
The average daily adult sentenced population was 4,583 in 2002, an increase of 1 per cent compared with the 2001 figure of 4,526. There was a decrease of less than 1 per cent in the average number of adult prisoners serving sentences of less than 6 months (from 478 in 2001 to 472 in 2002). The average daily adult population serving sentences of less than 2 years remained largely unchanged between 2001 and 2002. The number of prisoners serving sentences of 2 years and less than 4 years increased by 3 per cent from 671 in 2001 to 689 in 2002.
The number of long-term adult prisoners, those sentenced to 4 years or more (including recalls), increased by 3 per cent from 2,409 in 2001 to 2,487 in 2002. This was almost entirely due to a 27 per cent increase from 188 to 239 in the numbers in prison following recall from licence.
Population on 30 June 2002
On 30 June 2002, there were 6,544 prisoners in total, 6,251 males and 293 females. Half of the prisoners were aged between 25 and 39. This age distribution is similar to that in 2001.
On 30 June 2002, ethnic minority groups represented 2 per cent (104 prisoners) of the total prison population (including persons awaiting deportation). The proportion of ethnic minorities in the Scottish population as a whole is around 1.3 per cent.
Chart 3 Sentenced prison population by main crime group on 30 June 2002
Thirty nine per cent of the sentenced population on 30 June 2002 were detained for serious crimes of violence, for example, murder, serious assault and robbery and a further 17 per cent were detained for crimes of dishonesty (mainly housebreaking and other theft).
The majority of those sentenced for crimes of indecency were male. The largest groups of sentenced male prisoners detained on 30 June 2002 for a specific crime were those convicted of either serious assault or drugs offences, though the groups convicted of homicide and robbery, were nearly as large. The largest group of female prisoners were those detained for 'drugs offences', though the group convicted specifically for other theft was the next largest group.
On 1 April 2002, a new Prisoner Supervision System, specifically designed to assist the effective management of prisoners and to enhance public safety, was implemented giving supervision levels of 'High', 'Medium' or 'Low'. Under the new system, on 30 June 2002, almost half (46 per cent) of all prisoners were given a supervision level of 'High', representing 47 per cent of males and 40 per cent of females.
Receptions
Remand receptions
Remand receptions increased from 15,433 in 2001 to 18,726 in 2002, an increase of 21 per cent. The increase in total remand receptions is largely attributable to the increase in receptions of untried prisoners. Receptions in this category increased from 11,931 in 2001 to 14,773 in 2002.
In 2002, there were 4,959 young offender remand receptions, 356 more than in 2001, an increase of 8 per cent. Adult remand receptions increased by 27 per cent from 10,830 in 2001 to 13,767 in 2002.
Chart 4 Prison receptions by sentence type, 1993-2002
Sentenced receptions
The total number of sentenced receptions increased by 2 per cent between 2001 and 2002, from 19,247 to 19,687.
In 2002, the number of receptions relating to individuals sentenced (direct and fine default) in the High Court was 1,165 which represented an 11 per cent rise on the 2001 figure of 1,047. From the Sheriff Court (under solemn and summary procedure) the number of receptions was 14,745 and from the District and Stipendiary Magistrate courts the number was 3,691. These figures represent 6 per cent, 75 per cent and 19 per cent of all sentenced receptions respectively, a very similar distribution to 2001. The number of sentenced receptions emanating from District & Stipendiary Magistrate Courts decreased by 7 per cent. Sheriff Court business increased by 5 per cent.
Direct sentenced receptions
Adult direct sentenced receptions increased by 8 per cent from 9,617 in 2001 to 10,408 in 2002. Young offender direct sentenced receptions decreased by 9 per cent from 2,414 in 2001 to 2,205 in 2002. The number of young offender direct sentenced receptions in 2002 was again the lowest level experienced since 1991.
Chart 5 Direct sentenced receptions by average sentence length imposed, 1993-2002
Among the more common crimes and offences, the average sentence length imposed for determinate direct sentenced receptions of adults in 2002 ranged from 99 days (just over 3 months) for breach of the peace to 1,126 days (just over 3 years) for robbery. Twenty-four per cent of adult direct sentenced receptions for drug offences were for sentences of 4 years or more, only those sentenced for robbery and serious assault and attempted murder had a higher proportion of such long sentences (35 per cent and 24 per cent respectively).
The comparable figures for young offenders ranged from 121 days for breach of the peace to 698 days for serious assault and attempted murder, and 663 days for robbery. Seventeen per cent of young offender direct sentenced receptions for serious assault and attempted murder were for 4 years or over, 15 per cent for robbery and 9 per cent for drugs.
Fine default receptions
The number of receptions for persons who were imprisoned for defaulting on payment of a fine fell from 7,216 in 2001 to 7,074 in 2002. Female receptions in default of a fine increased by 5 per cent in 2002 to 573, this compares with a 3 per cent decrease in male receptions in default of a fine to 6,501 in 2002.
The number of adult fine default receptions decreased to 6,056 in 2002, down half a per cent (32 receptions) from 6,088 in 2001. The average length of fine default sentences imposed on adults in 2002 was 11 days, which exhibited little change from the average since 1994.
Between 2001 and 2002, young offender receptions for fine default decreased by 10 per cent from 1,128 to 1,018 continuing the downward trend from 1998. The average length of fine default sentences imposed on young offenders in 2002 was 10 days, the same as the average recorded since 1996.
The average fine outstanding for young offenders in 2002 was 245, a 1 per cent rise on the 2001 figure of 242. The average fine outstanding for young offender males in 2002 was 247 and the average fine outstanding for young offender females in 2002 was 201.
Chart 6 Fine default receptions by amount of fine outstanding, 2002
The average fine outstanding for adult offenders in 2002 was 265, 2 per cent higher than the 2001 figure of 259. The average fine outstanding for adult males was 270 and the average fine outstanding for adult females for 2002 was 212.
Children on unruly certificates
The number of unruly certificates received in 2002 was 33 compared with 19 in 2001 and one more than in 1998. The highest number recorded in the last decade was 86 in 1995. All but one unruly certificate related to males.
In 2002, as in most of the previous years, the majority of children held on unruly certificates were 15 years old. During 2002, one unruly certificate was received regarding a fourteen year old, 21 certificates were received in respect of fifteen year olds, 8 certificates for sixteen year olds and 3 certificates for seventeen year olds.
The crimes alleged to have been committed by children held on unruly certificates ranged widely, though the majority (22) were crimes of violence.
The average time spent in custody (before sentence, if any) was 17 days in 2002, 6 days less than in 2001. During 2002, 79 per cent of the unruly certificate receptions spent 14 days or less in custody.
Breaches of discipline and punishments
There were 25,730 breaches of discipline in 2002. The most common breaches were 'disobeying a lawful order' (38 per cent of all breaches), 'administering, or allowing to be administered, a controlled drug to himself' (12 per cent), 'unauthorised absence from or presence in any part of the establishment' (9 per cent), and 'possession of an unauthorised article or quantity of an article' (7 per cent). In response to these breaches, 303,696 punishments were awarded in total. The most commonly awarded punishments were forfeiture of privileges (45 per cent of all punishments), stoppage or deduction from earnings (37 per cent) and caution (10 per cent).
International comparisons of prison population
In Scotland there were 129 prisoners for every 100,000 members of the general population in 2002. The rate for England and Wales was 137. Imprisonment rates varied greatly between the jurisdictions considered; from 702 per 100,000 population in USA and 602 in Russia to 61 in Norway and 53 in Japan.
Chart 7 Prison population rate per 100,000 population in 2002
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