4. The prison population in 1998 (Tables 1 to 11)
Although the change described in this note does not directly affect the 1998 data, attention should be drawn to Annex Note 2.1 which describes a change in the data collection procedures with effect from 1 April 1996. The change resulted in some changes to the population time series. In summary, the changes were to the overall sentence length categories of prisoners. For example, some prisoners are now classified in the ‘6 months - less than 9 months’ category when previously they may have been classified (under the manual system) in the ‘3 months - less than 6 months’ category.
Total numbers (Tables 1 to 3)
4.1 In 1998, the average daily population in Scottish prisons totalled 6,018, a decrease of 1 per cent on the average for 1997 (6,084) but still remaining at historically high levels. There were, on average, 938 remand prisoners, 4,281 adult sentenced prisoners and 712 sentenced young offenders. The remainder included, amongst others, those persons recalled from supervision or licence and persons awaiting deportation. The average daily female prison population has increased steadily from 143 in 1991 to 175 in 1995 and, despite a slight decrease in 1997 to 184, increased to 193 in 1998 (up 5 per cent).
4.2 Over the ten year period, 1989 - 1998, total prisoner numbers have increased by 21 per cent; from 4,986 in 1989 to 6,018 in 1998. Over the same period the female prison population has increased by 31 per cent; higher than the growth experienced in the male prison population (up 20 per cent).
Chart 2 Average daily prison population, by category of prisoner, 1978 - 1998
Chart2
4.3 The average daily population figure conceals fluctuations which occur on a weekly, quarterly and annual basis. A study of nightly lock-up figures, received daily from the Prisoner Records System (PRS), shows that prisoner numbers are at their highest mid-week and lowest on a Friday. Prisoners cannot be released on a Saturday or Sunday therefore any prisoners who have liberation dates falling at the weekend are released on the Friday. Thus, the Friday night lock-up figure is low because it reflects the population after the liberations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday have taken place. The average daily population usually rises significantly during the first half of the year and in particular during the period January to March. However, in 1998, the population only increased marginally, from 6,031 in the first quarter to 6,084 in the second quarter (an increase of less than 1 per cent). The corresponding increase in 1997 was also less than 1 per cent. During 1998, the lowest prison population was 5,653 (recorded on Friday 2nd January 1998) and the highest population was 6,334 on Thursday 25 March 1998). The lowest and highest figures recorded in 1997 were 5,751 and 6,366 respectively.
Chart 3 Average daily prison population, 1994 — 1998, by week
Chart3
Population by establishment (Table 4)
4.4 Table 4 illustrates the range of establishments within the Scottish Prison Service estate. In 1998 there were 22 penal establishments in Scotland. In addition, there were 11 Legalised Police Cells which could be used to detain prisoners. (These tend to be located in more rural areas and are primarily used to detain prisoners temporarily for court attendance etc.). Of the 22 establishments, nineteen cater, in the main, for adult prisoners. There are also 2 young offenders institutions and one remand institution. In 1998 Cornton Vale was the only all female establishment in the Scottish Prison Service estate. More information on each of the establishments can be found in the SPS Annual Report and Accounts for 1998 - 99.
4.5 The average daily prison population smoothes the peaks and troughs in prisoner numbers experienced during the year. Table 4 details the maximum populations experienced within each establishment during 1998 thus enabling comparisons of the average and maximum figures to be made. Across the whole estate the maximum population was 6,334, some 5 per cent greater than the average daily population of 6,018. Within individual establishments the maximum population ranged from 2 to 3 per cent above the average daily population in Shotts and Glenochil to 24 per cent in Castle Huntly.
Remand numbers (Table 5)
4.6 The average daily remand population was 938 (890 males and 48 females) in 1998, a decrease of 1 per cent when compared with the figure of 947 experienced in 1997. Young offender remand numbers increased by 3 per cent from 274 in 1997 to 281 in 1998. Conversely, adult remand numbers decreased by 2 per cent (673 in 1997 and 657 in 1998). The average daily untried remand population decreased by 1 per cent from 850 in 1997 to 844 in 1998 and the average daily population who were convicted awaiting sentence decreased by 4 per cent to number 94 in 1998.
Sentenced young offenders (Tables 6 to 6B)
4.7 The average number of sentenced young offenders was 712 in 1998, a decrease of 10 per cent on the 1997 figure of 787. This decrease was reflected in all population categories with the exception of Section 205 sentences (indeterminate) which exhibited an increase of 11 per cent (from 18 in 1997 to 20 in 1998) and 4 years or over (excluding life) which remained constant at 154.
4.8 The number of female sentenced young offenders decreased from 19 in 1997 to 17 in 1998.
Chart 4 illustrates the young offender average daily sentenced population between 1989 and 1998.
Chart 4 Average daily young offender sentenced population, 1989 - 1998
Chart4
Sentenced adults (Tables 7 to 7B)
4.9 The average daily adult sentenced population was 4,281 in 1998, almost identical to the 1997 figure of 4,282.
4.10 There was an 8 per cent decrease in the average number of adult prisoners serving sentences of less than 6 months (from 571 in 1997 to 528 in 1998). Over the ten year period, 1989 - 1998, the number of adults in this category has decreased by 42 per cent. The decrease between 1997 and 1998 in numbers serving less than 3 months was particularly marked (19 per cent) and reflects the large fall in receptions in default of a fine. The average number of adult prisoners serving sentences of 4 years or over (excluding life) increased by 6 per cent to total 1,794 in 1998. This category, which accounted for over two-fifths of all adult sentenced prisoners in 1998, has increased by 84 per cent between 1989 and 1998. In 1998, the number of adult sentenced prisoners serving life or a sentence under Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 rose from 481 in 1997 to 509, an increase of 6 per cent. This followed a 9 per cent increase between 1996 and 1997. Chart 5 illustrates the adult average daily sentenced population between 1989 and 1998.
4.11 The male adult sentenced population decreased slightly between 1997 and 1998 from 4,163 in 1997 to 4,155 in 1998 whereas the female adult sentenced population increased by 7 per cent over the same period.
Chart 5 Average daily adult sentenced population, 1989 - 1998
Chart5
Population as at 30 June 1998
4.12 The data collected from the Prisoner Records System enables more in-depth investigation of the profile of the Scottish prison population than was previously possible from the information submitted on manual returns by establishments. The following sections attempt to provide a summary of key aspects of the prison population on a particular day in 1998, 30 June. On this day there were 6,105 prisoners in total, 5,902 males and 203 females.
Age (Table 8)
4.13 Previously, the only age distinction made in relation to the population was whether the prisoner was a young offender or an adult. Table 8 provides detailed information on the age of prisoners by sex as at 30 June. Over one third of prisoners were under the age of 25, one fifth of all prisoners were aged between 25 and 29, a further 17 per cent were aged between 30 and 34 and 11 per cent were aged between 35 and 39.
Main crime/offence of remand and sentenced prisoners (Table 9)
4.14 Table 9 details, for remand and sentenced prisoners in custody on 30 June 1998, the main crime/offence for which they were detained. About two fifths of the sentenced population were detained for serious crimes of violence, for example, murder, serious assault and robbery and a further one fifth were detained for crimes of dishonesty (mainly housebreaking and other theft). The gender split for the crimes of dishonesty group highlights one of the differences in offending patterns between males and females. The proportion (with regard to total crimes & offences) of females detained for ‘other theft’, mainly shoplifting, was almost three times as great as the proportion of males detained for this crime. The largest group of sentenced prisoners detained on 30 June 1998 were those convicted specifically of drugs offences (importation, possession and supply etc). This was the case for both males and females.
Security category (Table 10)
4.15 There are four possible security categories which can be assigned to a prisoner, from category A which is the highest security level, to category D which is the lowest. (A further category of ‘limited D’ is available exclusively for life sentence prisoners, but is not separately identified for the purposes of this bulletin). Table 10 details the security category distribution of prisoners by sex. The proportion of prisoners assigned the highest security category was very small (less than 0.5 per cent). The majority, 60 per cent, were assigned category B with a further 31 per cent assigned category C. The remainder (under 10 per cent) were assigned category D. There were proportionately more females than males with a security category rating of D (13 per cent compared with 9 per cent).
Ethnic origin (Table 11)
4.16 Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 requires the Secretary of State to publish such information as he sees fit to assist those engaged in the administration of criminal justice to avoid discriminating against persons on the grounds of race or gender. In this regard, Table 11 describes the ethnic origin of prisoners who were in custody in Scottish prisons on 30 June 1998. The figures include those persons who were awaiting deportation. Ethnic minority groups represented 1.2 per cent (76 prisoners) of the total prison population on 30 June 1998 (including persons awaiting deportation). This is a similar proportion to that of ethnic minorities in the Scottish population as a whole (1.3 per cent).