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3. Social Enquiry Reports (Charts 2-6 and Tables 3-10, 56 and 57)
Social Enquiry Reports, including Supplementary Reports
3.1 A total of 40,265 SERs were submitted in 2004-05 by Local Authorities to the Courts (excluding letters sent in lieu of reports), an increase of 2 per cent from the 39,492 submitted in the previous year. During the same period, a total of 47,352 SERs were requested by the Courts, an increase of 5 per cent from the 2003-04 total of 45,274.
Number of Social Enquiry Reports (1) 2000-01 to 2004-05
Chart 2
3.2 The majority of SERs submitted to the Courts related to summary proceedings in Sheriff Courts (84 per cent).
3.3 The total of 40,265 SERs submitted was equivalent to 111.7 SERs per 10,000 population in 2004-05. Rates varied considerably between Local Authorities, with Dundee City (260.2), and Clackmannanshire (173.4) having the highest numbers of reports per 10,000 population. Rates were lowest in East Dunbartonshire (39.0) and Aberdeenshire (45.2).
Number of SERs (1) per 10,000 population by Local Authority 2004-05
Chart 3
Social Enquiry Reports, excluding Supplementary Reports
3.4 A total of 34,301 SERs (excluding Supplementary Reports) were submitted to the Courts in 2004-05, a decrease of 4 per cent on the 2003-04 total of 35,624. The majority (84 per cent) of these reports were made in respect of males.
3.5 Males who were the subject of SERs tended to be younger than females, with 29 per cent of reports for males and 19 per cent of those for females relating to under 21 year olds.
3.6 SERs were most common amongst young adults, accounting for 324.7 per 10,000 population of 18 to 20 year olds. The incidence of SERs was also relatively common amongst 21 to 25 year olds (251.0 per 10,000 population) and 16 to 17 year olds (223.0). It should be noted however, that one person can be the subject of several SERs within a year.
Social Enquiry Reports(1)by Age and Gender of Client, 2004-05
Reports per 10,000 population
Chart 4
3.7 The majority of SERs related to the unemployed (58 per cent) with only 3 per cent of SERs being for people in full time education or on a government sponsored training scheme.
3.8 One of the main purposes of a SER is to offer information and advice which can help the court decide between the available sentencing options. The National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System state that: "Whilst reports must not include a recommendation as such, report writers may indicate, on the basis of their review and assessment, which non-custodial option is in their opinion most likely to prevent or reduce future offending in the event of the court deciding it not necessary to impose a custodial sentence. … If the offender has been assessed as someone who could pose a risk of serious harm to others, the court will appreciate advice on the desirability of a Supervised Release Order or Extended Sentence in the event of custody."
3.9 Nearly 22 per cent of SERs in 2004-05 gave no preferred sentencing option. Probation was the preferred option in 23 per cent of SERs, just under half being with standard conditions. Probation with additional conditions was a more common preferred option for males (9 per cent) than females (7 per cent) whilst probation with standard conditions were more common for females (12 per cent) than males (11 per cent). A further 14 per cent of reports gave Community Service as the preferred option which tended to be more common for males (14 per cent) than for females (9 per cent). Sixteen per cent gave a deferred sentence of 3 months or more as the preferred option and 9 per cent of SERs suggested a monetary penalty. Custody was rarely suggested, featuring as the preferred option in just under 2 per cent of reports. Around 14 per cent of reports suggested some other form of preferred option (including RLOs and DTTOs).
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Preferred Option 2001-02 to 2004-05
Chart 5
3.10 The main outcome in nearly 19 per cent of SERs was Probation. Other main outcomes were Custody (16 percent), Community Service (13 per cent), Monetary Penalty (11 per cent) and Deferred Sentence (10 per cent).
3.11 Males were more likely to receive Custody (17 per cent) or Community Service (13 per cent) than females (9 per cent and 10 per cent respectively). Correspondingly, Probation with Standard Conditions was relatively more common amongst female offenders, accounting for 11 per cent of SERs for females and 6 per cent of those for males.
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Main Outcome, 2001-02 to 2004-05
Chart 6
3.12 The outcomes and preferred options can be grouped into 4 broad categories: Custodial Sentence, Community Sentence (Probation and Community Service), Monetary Penalty and Other/not known (covering all other preferred options and outcomes). Using this grouping and excluding Glasgow City who could not provide this information, the main outcome corresponded to the preferred option in over one half (54 per cent) of all SERs. For SERs where the preferred option was a Custodial Sentence, the main outcome was a Custodial Sentence in 70 per cent of cases for males and 71 per cent for females. Community Sentences were the main outcome in 50 per cent of SERs for males and 57 per cent of reports for females where a Community Sentence was the preferred option.
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