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2. Social Enquiry Reports (Charts 2 to 5 and Tables 2.1 to 2.8)
Social Enquiry Reports, including Supplementary Reports
2.1 A total of 41,359 SERs were submitted in 2006-07 by Local Authorities to the Courts (excluding letters sent in lieu of reports), equivalent to 113.0 SERs per 10,000 population. This is an increase of 8 per cent from the 38,123 submitted in 2002-03. During the same period, a total of 50,577 SERs were requested by the Courts, an increase of 12 per cent from the 2005-06 total of 50,150.
Chart 2: Number of Social Enquiry Reports (1), 2002-03 to 2006-07
1. Includes Supplementary Reports.
2.2 The majority of SERs submitted to the Courts related to summary proceedings in Sheriff Courts (87 per cent).
Social Enquiry Reports, excluding Supplementary Reports
2.3 A total of 35,565 SERs (excluding Supplementary Reports) were submitted to the Courts in 2006-07, a small decrease of 59 orders compared to the 2003-04 total of 35,624. The majority (85 per cent) of these reports were made in respect of males.
2.5 SERs were most common amongst young adults, accounting for 329.8 per 10,000 population of 18 to 20 year olds. The incidence of SERs was also relatively common amongst 16 to 17 year olds (281.9) and 21 to 25 year olds (230.6 per 10,000 population). It should be noted however, that one person can be the subject of several SERs within a year.
2.6 Males who were the subject of SERs tended to be younger than females, with 30 per cent of reports for males and 20 per cent of those for females relating to under 21 year olds.
Chart 3: Social Enquiry Reports(1)by Age and Gender of Client, 2006-07
Reports per 10,000 population
1. Reports submitted to the Courts, excluding Supplementary Reports (see Annex, paragraph 15.6).
2. Includes a small number of Reports relating to clients aged under 16 years.
2.7 The majority of SERs related to the unemployed (56 per cent) with only 3 per cent of SERs being for people in full time education or on a government sponsored training scheme.
2.8 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."
2.9 Twenty per cent of SERs in 2006-07 gave no preferred sentencing option, an increase from 18 per cent in 2005-06. Probation was the preferred option in 21 per cent of SERs, just under half being with standard conditions. Probation with additional conditions was a more common preferred option for males (8 per cent) than females (7 per cent) whilst probation with standard conditions was more common for females (11 per cent) than males (10 per cent). A further 14 per cent of reports gave Community Service as the preferred option which tended to be more common for males (15 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 3 per cent of reports. Around 18 per cent of reports suggested some other form of preferred option (including a RLO or a deferment for a DTTO assessment).
Chart 4: Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Preferred Option, 2002-03 to 2006-07
1. Excludes Supplementary Reports (see Annex, paragraph 15.6).
2. Other includes RLOs and deferments for DTTO assessments (prior to 2005-06 this category was ' DTTO').
2.10 The main outcome in 17 per cent of SERs was Probation, closely followed by Custody (16.6 per cent). Other main outcomes were Community Service (13 per cent), Monetary Penalty (11 per cent) and Deferred Sentence (11 per cent).
2.11 Males were more likely to receive Custody (18 per cent) or Community Service (14 per cent) than females (9 per cent and 8 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.
Chart 5: Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Main Outcome, 2002-03 to 2006-07
1. Excludes Supplementary Reports (see Annex, paragraph 15.6).
2.12 The outcomes and preferred options can be grouped into 4 broad categories: Custodial Sentence, Community Sentence (Probation, Community Service, Restriction of Liberty Orders and Deferments for DTTO Assessments), Monetary Penalty and Other/not known (covering all other preferred options and outcomes). Using this grouping (including only the partial information available for Argyll & Bute, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire), the main outcome corresponded to the preferred option 42 per cent of all SERs. For SERs where the preferred option was a Custodial Sentence, the main outcome was a Custodial Sentence in 68 per cent of cases for males and 42 per cent for females. Community Sentences were the main outcome in 43 per cent of SERs for males and 40 per cent of reports for females where a Community Sentence was the preferred option.
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