Prison Statistics Scotland, 2003

Description	Prison population and receptions statistics for Scotland, 2003
ISBN	N/A (Web Only)
Official Print Publication Date
Website Publication Date	August 26, 2004

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Statistical Bulletin
CrJ/2004/6	Published August 2004

PRISON STATISTICS SCOTLAND, 2003

A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication

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Introduction
Main points
Commentary
Appendix of tables
Annex: Notes on statistics used in the bulletin
Scottish Executive Statistical Services
Correspondence and enquiries

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.

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

chart

3. Main points

In 2003, the average daily population in Scottish prisons totalled 6,524, an increase of 2 per cent when compared with the 2002 figure of 6,404 and again the highest annual level ever recorded.
In 2003, the average daily female prison population increased from 277 in 2002 to 297, an increase of 7 per cent.
The average daily remand population in 2003 was 1,220, virtually unchanged from the 2002 figure of 1,222.
The average population of sentenced young offenders was 577 in 2003, a decrease of 3 per cent compared with the 2002 figure of 597.
The number of long-term adult prisoners, those sentenced to 4 years or more (including recalls), increased by 5 per cent from 2,487 in 2002 to 2,600 in 2003.
The number of short-term adult prisoners, those sentenced to less than 4 years (excluding fine defaulters), increased by just over 1 per cent from 2,037 in 2002 to 2,066 in 2003.
The number of receptions for persons who were imprisoned for defaulting on payment of a fine fell from 7,074 in 2002 to 6,758 in 2003.

4. Commentary

Prison population

Total average daily population

In 2003, the average daily population in Scottish prisons totalled 6,524, an increase of 2 per cent when compared with the 2002 figure of 6,404 and again the highest annual level ever recorded. Over the ten year period, 1994 - 2003, the average daily prison population has increased by 17 per cent. In the same ten year period the female prison population has increased by 68 per cent; over four times the growth experienced in the male prison population (15 per cent). In 2003 the average daily female prison population increased from 277 in 2002 to 297, an increase of 7 per cent.

Chart 2 Average daily prison population, by category of prisoner, 1984-2003

bar chart

Remand population

The average daily remand population in 2003 was 1,220 (1,140 males and 81 females) virtually unchanged from the 2002 figure of 1,222. Young offender remand numbers decreased by 10 per cent from 274 in 2002 to 247 in 2003, while adult remand numbers increased by 3 per cent to 973.

Looking at differences between types of remand, the average daily population of untried prisoners decreased by 1 per cent from 1,081 in 2002 to 1,070 in 2003, whilst the average daily population of those prisoners who were convicted awaiting sentence increased by 7 per cent to 151 in 2003.

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 2003, the average population of fine defaulters was 61, showing no change from 2002.

Sentenced population

The average population of sentenced young offenders was 577 in 2003, a decrease of 3 per cent compared with the 2002 figure of 597. The number of male sentenced young offenders fell from 577 in 2002 to 554 in 2003 and the number of female sentenced young offenders increased from 20 in 2002 to 23 in 2003.

The average daily adult sentenced population was 4,726 in 2003, an increase of 3 per cent compared with the 2002 figure of 4,583. There was a decrease of 2 per cent in the average number of adult prisoners serving sentences of less than 6 months (from 472 in 2002 to 464 in 2003). The average daily adult population serving sentences of less than 2 years remained largely unchanged between 2002 and 2003. The number of prisoners serving sentences of 2 years and over but less than 4 years increased by 6 per cent from 689 in 2002 to 727 in 2003.

The number of long-term adult prisoners, those sentenced to 4 years or more (including recalls), increased by 5 per cent from 2,487 in 2002 to 2,600 in 2003. The number of persons recalled from supervision or license has continued to rise, increasing from 239 in 2002 to 283 in 2003 (18 per cent).

Population on 30 June 2003

On 30 June 2003, there were 6,534 prisoners in total, 6,239 males and 295 females. Half of the prisoners were aged between 25 and 39. This age distribution is similar to that in 2002.

On 30 June 2003, ethnic minority groups represented 2 per cent (115 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 2003

pie chart

Forty one per cent of the sentenced population on 30 June 2003 were detained for serious crimes of violence, for example, murder, serious assault and robbery, and a further 16 per cent were detained for crimes of dishonesty (mainly housebreaking and other theft).

All but one of those sentenced for crimes of indecency were male. The largest groups of sentenced male prisoners detained on 30 June 2003 for a specific crime were those convicted of either serious assault or drugs offences. The largest group of female prisoners were those detained for drugs offences, with the group convicted specifically for other theft as the next largest group.

On 30 June 2003, over a third (35 per cent) of all prisoners were given a supervision level of 'High', representing 34 per cent of males and 41 per cent of females.

Receptions

Remand receptions

Remand receptions increased from 18,726 in 2002 to 18,870 in 2003, an increase of 1 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 14,773 in 2002 to 14,863 in 2003.

In 2003, there were 4,566 young offender remand receptions, 393 less than in 2002, a decrease of 8 per cent. Adult remand receptions increased by 4 per cent from 13,767 in 2002 to 14,304 in 2003.

Chart 4 Prison receptions by sentence type, 1994-2003

bar chart

Sentenced receptions

The total number of sentenced receptions decreased by 4 per cent between 2002 and 2003, from 19,687 to 18,872.

In 2003, the number of receptions relating to individuals sentenced (direct and fine default) in the High Court was 1,213 which represented a 4 per cent rise on the 2002 figure of 1,165. From the Sheriff Court (under solemn and summary procedure) the number of receptions was 13,902 and from the District and Stipendiary Magistrate courts the number was 3,650. These figures represent 6 per cent, 74 per cent and 19 per cent of all sentenced receptions respectively, a very similar distribution to 2002. The number of sentenced receptions emanating from District & Stipendiary Magistrate Courts remained very similar to those in 2002, whilst Sheriff Court receptions decreased by 6 per cent.

Direct sentenced receptions

Adult direct sentenced receptions decreased by 3 per cent from 10,408 in 2002 to 10,135 in 2003. Young offender direct sentenced receptions decreased by 10 per cent from 2,205 in 2002 to 1,979 in 2003. The number of young offender direct sentenced receptions in 2003 was again the lowest level recorded since comparable data was first collected in 1989.

Chart 5 Direct sentenced receptions by average sentence length imposed, 1994-2003

bar chart

Among the more common crimes and offences, the average sentence length imposed for determinate direct sentenced receptions of adults in 2003 ranged from 109 days for breach of the peace to 1,083 days (just over 3 years) for robbery. Twenty-two 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 (32 per cent and 23 per cent respectively).

The average sentence lengths for young offenders ranged from 106 days for breach of the peace to 710 days for robbery, and 649 days for serious assault and attempted murder. Of all young offender direct sentenced receptions, 16 per cent sentenced for robbery, 13 per cent sentenced for robbery, and 9 per cent sentenced for drugs were sentenced for 4 years or over.

Fine default receptions

The number of receptions for persons who were imprisoned for defaulting on payment of a fine fell from 7,074 in 2002 to 6,758. Female receptions in default of a fine decreased by 1 per cent in 2003 to 570; this compares with a 5 per cent decrease in male receptions in default of a fine to 6,188 in 2003.

The number of adult fine default receptions decreased to 5,873 in 2003, down 3 per cent (183 receptions) from 6,056 in 2002. The average length of fine default sentences imposed on adults in 2003 was 11 days, which exhibited little change from the average since 1994.

Between 2002 and 2003, young offender receptions for fine default decreased by 13 per cent from 1,018 to 885, continuing the downward trend from 1998. The average length of fine default sentences imposed on young offenders in 2003 was 11 days, which exhibited little change from the average since 1994.

The average fine outstanding for young offenders in 2003 was 274, a 12 per cent rise on the 2002 figure of 245. The average fine outstanding for male young offenders in 2003 was 278 and the average fine outstanding for female young offenders in 2003 was 198.

Chart 6 Fine default receptions by amount of fine outstanding, 2003

pie chart

The average fine outstanding for adult offenders in 2003 was 269, 2 per cent higher than the 2002 figure of 265. The average fine outstanding for adult males was 275 and the average fine outstanding for adult females for 2003 was 206.

Children on unruly certificates

The number of unruly certificates received in 2003 was 22 compared with 33 in 2002. All but one unruly certificate related to males.

In 2003, as in most of the previous years, the majority of children held on unruly certificates were 15 years old. During 2003, five unruly certificates were received regarding fourteen year olds, twelve certificates were received in respect of fifteen year olds, four certificates for sixteen year olds and one certificate for a seventeen year old.

The crimes alleged to have been committed by children held on unruly certificates ranged widely, though the most common crimes (10) were crimes of violence.

The average time spent in custody (before sentence, if any) was 14 days in 2003, 3 days less than in 2002. During 2003, 77 per cent of the unruly certificate receptions spent less than 14 days in custody.

Breaches of discipline and punishments

There were 21,806 breaches of discipline recorded in Scottish penal establishments in 2003. 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' (14 per cent), 'possession of an unauthorised article or quantity of an article' (10 per cent), and 'using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour' (6 per cent). In response to these breaches, 33,464 punishments were awarded in total. The most commonly awarded punishments were 'stoppage or deduction from earnings' (43 per cent of all punishments), 'forfeiture of privileges' (41 per cent), and 'cellular confinement' (8 per cent).

International comparisons of prison population

In Scotland there were 129 prisoners for every 100,000 members of the general population in 2003. 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 65 in Denmark and 50 in Cyprus..

Chart 7 Prison population rate per 100,000 population in 2003

bar chart

5. Appendix of tables

The Scottish Government

Statistics

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