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CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL WORK STATISTICS, 2002-03
4. Social Enquiry Reports, excluding Supplementary Reports
(table 5 to table 9)
4.1 This section provides information on the number of Social
Enquiry Reports (excluding Supplementary Reports) submitted to the Courts between
1 April 2002 and 31 March 2003. Further information on Social Enquiry Reports
is provided in the Annex (paragraphs 17.3 and 17.4).
4.2 A total of 34,570 Social Enquiry Reports (excluding Supplementary
Reports) were submitted to the Courts in 2002-03, an increase of 15% on the
2001-02 total of 30,065. The majority of Social Enquiry Reports (85%) were made
in respect of males.
|
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Age and Gender of Client,
2000-01 to 2002-03
Number, Per cent and Reports per 10,000 population (2)
|
Table 5
|
|
Gender by Age Group
|
Number of Reports
|
Per cent of Reports
|
Reports per 10,000 Population
|
|
2000-01
|
2001-02
|
2002-03
|
2000-01
|
2001-02
|
2002-03
|
2000-01
|
2001-02
|
2002-03
|
|
Total
|
|
16-17 (3)
|
2,540
|
2,584
|
3,157
|
9.3
|
8.6
|
9.1
|
201.7
|
203.9
|
242.3
|
|
18-20
|
6,783
|
7,050
|
7,312
|
24.8
|
23.4
|
21.2
|
336.1
|
348.4
|
368.3
|
|
21-25
|
6,298
|
7,075
|
8,673
|
23.1
|
23.5
|
25.1
|
199.7
|
223.9
|
271.2
|
|
26-30
|
4,151
|
4,659
|
5,231
|
15.2
|
15.5
|
15.1
|
116.2
|
136.3
|
160.2
|
|
31-40
|
4,884
|
5,689
|
6,627
|
17.9
|
18.9
|
19.2
|
59.7
|
69.9
|
81.9
|
|
Over 40
|
2,648
|
3,008
|
3,570
|
9.7
|
10.0
|
10.3
|
14.8
|
16.7
|
19.5
|
|
Total
|
27,304
|
30,065
|
34,570
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
70.6
|
77.7
|
89.4
|
|
Males
|
|
16-17 (3)
|
2,307
|
2,326
|
2,835
|
9.8
|
9.1
|
9.6
|
357.7
|
359.9
|
427.0
|
|
18-20
|
6,031
|
6,279
|
6,536
|
25.6
|
24.5
|
22.1
|
588.7
|
611.0
|
648.5
|
|
21-25
|
5,418
|
5,992
|
7,368
|
23.0
|
23.3
|
24.9
|
335.7
|
370.8
|
451.0
|
|
26-30
|
3,450
|
3,811
|
4,337
|
14.6
|
14.8
|
14.7
|
190.6
|
219.5
|
261.0
|
|
31-40
|
4,106
|
4,704
|
5,405
|
17.4
|
18.3
|
18.3
|
100.5
|
115.7
|
133.7
|
|
Over 40
|
2,275
|
2,552
|
3,062
|
9.6
|
9.9
|
10.4
|
26.3
|
29.2
|
34.5
|
|
Total
|
23,587
|
25,664
|
29,543
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
123.1
|
133.8
|
153.9
|
|
Females
|
|
16-17 (3)
|
233
|
258
|
322
|
6.3
|
5.9
|
6.4
|
37.9
|
41.6
|
50.4
|
|
18-20
|
752
|
771
|
776
|
20.2
|
17.5
|
15.4
|
75.7
|
77.4
|
79.4
|
|
21-25
|
880
|
1,083
|
1,305
|
23.7
|
24.6
|
26.0
|
57.1
|
70.2
|
83.4
|
|
26-30
|
701
|
848
|
894
|
18.9
|
19.3
|
17.8
|
39.8
|
50.4
|
55.8
|
|
31-40
|
778
|
985
|
1,222
|
20.9
|
22.4
|
24.3
|
19.0
|
24.2
|
30.2
|
|
Over 40
|
373
|
456
|
508
|
10.0
|
10.4
|
10.1
|
4.1
|
4.9
|
5.4
|
|
Total
|
3,717
|
4,401
|
5,027
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
19.1
|
22.6
|
25.8
|
Note:
(1) Reports submitted to the Courts, excluding Supplementary Reports (see Annex,
paragraph 17.4).
(2) Reports per 10,000 population are based on GROS mid-year population estimates
for 16 to 70 year olds.
(3) Includes a small number of reports relating to clients aged under 16 years.
4.3 Males who were the subject of Social Enquiry Reports tended to be younger
than females, with 32% of reports in respect of males and 22% of those for females
relating to under 21 year olds.
4.4 Social Enquiry Reports were most common amongst young adults, accounting
for 368.3 per 10,000 population of 18 to 20 year olds. The incidence of Social
Enquiry Reports was also relatively common amongst 16 to 17 year olds (242.3
per 10,000 population) and 21 to 25 year olds (271.2). [It should, however,
be noted that one person could be the subject of several Social Enquiry Reports
within a year.]
4.5 The majority of SERs related to the unemployed (56%), with only 4% of SERs
being for people in full time education or on a government sponsored training
scheme (Table 6).
|
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Employment Status, 2001-02
to 2002-03
Number and Per cent of Reports
|
Table 6
|
|
Employment Status
|
2001-02
|
2002-03
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
|
Number
|
|
Full time education
|
688
|
125
|
813
|
795
|
109
|
904
|
|
Employed/self employed
|
5,085
|
611
|
5,696
|
5,413
|
445
|
5,858
|
|
Unemployed
|
15,223
|
2,579
|
17,802
|
16,492
|
2,861
|
19,353
|
|
Government sponsored training scheme
|
307
|
34
|
341
|
456
|
29
|
485
|
|
Not seeking employment
|
2,888
|
835
|
3,723
|
3,531
|
1,117
|
4,648
|
|
Other
|
1,473
|
217
|
1,690
|
2,856
|
466
|
3,322
|
|
Total
|
25,664
|
4,401
|
30,065
|
29,543
|
5,027
|
34,570
|
|
Per cent
|
|
Full time education
|
2.7
|
2.8
|
2.7
|
2.7
|
2.2
|
2.6
|
|
Employed/self employed
|
19.8
|
13.9
|
18.9
|
18.3
|
8.9
|
16.9
|
|
Unemployed
|
59.3
|
58.6
|
59.2
|
55.8
|
56.9
|
56.0
|
|
Government sponsored training scheme
|
1.2
|
0.8
|
1.1
|
1.5
|
0.6
|
1.4
|
|
Not seeking employment
|
11.3
|
19.0
|
12.4
|
12.0
|
22.2
|
13.4
|
|
Other
|
5.7
|
4.9
|
5.6
|
9.7
|
9.3
|
9.6
|
|
Total
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
(1) Reports submitted to the Courts, excluding Supplementary Reports (see Annex,
paragraph 17.4).
4.6 One of the main purposes of a Social Enquiry Report 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."
4.7 Nearly 30% of reports in 2002-03 gave no preferred sentencing option. Probation
was the preferred option in 20% of Social Enquiry Reports, generally with standard
conditions. A further 12% of reports gave Community Service as the preferred
option, although this tended to be more common for males (12%) than for females
(7%). Eight per cent of reports suggested a Monetary Penalty. Custody was rarely
suggested, featuring as the preferred option in just 1% of reports. Around 16%
of reports suggested some other form of preferred option.
|
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Preferred Option, 2000-01
to 2002-03
Number and Per cent of Reports
|
Table 7a
|
|
Preferred Option
|
Number of Reports
|
Per cent of Reports
|
|
|
2000-01
|
2001-02
|
2002-03
|
2000-01
|
2001-02
|
2002-03
|
|
Custody with Supervised Release Order
|
26
|
31
|
54
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
|
Custody with extended sentence
|
0
|
10
|
39
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
|
Custody
|
155
|
190
|
256
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
|
Probation with condition of unpaid work
|
885
|
760
|
834
|
3.2
|
2.5
|
2.4
|
|
Community Service
|
3,596
|
3,492
|
3,987
|
13.2
|
11.6
|
11.5
|
|
Probation with additional conditions
|
1,260
|
1,673
|
2,233
|
4.6
|
5.6
|
6.5
|
|
Probation with standard conditions
|
3,636
|
3,715
|
3,894
|
13.3
|
12.4
|
11.3
|
|
Monetary Penalty
|
2,662
|
2,607
|
2,679
|
9.7
|
8.7
|
7.7
|
|
Deferred (3 months or more)
|
4,298
|
4,330
|
4,767
|
15.7
|
14.4
|
13.8
|
|
No Preferred Option
|
7,719
|
9,577
|
10,276
|
28.3
|
31.9
|
29.7
|
|
Other (2)
|
3,067
|
3,680
|
5,551
|
11.2
|
12.2
|
16.1
|
|
Total
|
27,304
|
30,065
|
34,570
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
Note:
(1) Reports submitted to the Courts, excluding Supplementary Reports (see Annex,
paragraph 17.4).
(2) "Other" includes absolute discharge, admonition and preferred option
unknown.
|
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Preferred Option and Gender,
2002-03
Number and Per cent of Reports
|
Table 7b
|
|
Preferred Option
|
Number of Reports
|
Per cent of Reports
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
|
Custody with Supervised Release Order
|
54
|
0
|
54
|
0.2
|
0.0
|
0.2
|
|
Custody with extended sentence
|
39
|
0
|
39
|
0.1
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
|
Custody
|
243
|
13
|
256
|
0.8
|
0.3
|
0.7
|
|
Probation with condition of unpaid work
|
758
|
76
|
834
|
2.6
|
1.5
|
2.4
|
|
Community Service
|
3,621
|
366
|
3,987
|
12.3
|
7.3
|
11.5
|
|
Probation with additional conditions
|
1,952
|
281
|
2,233
|
6.6
|
5.6
|
6.5
|
|
Probation with standard conditions
|
3,312
|
582
|
3,894
|
11.2
|
11.6
|
11.3
|
|
Monetary Penalty
|
2,343
|
336
|
2,679
|
7.9
|
6.7
|
7.7
|
|
Deferred (3 months or more)
|
3,824
|
943
|
4,767
|
12.9
|
18.8
|
13.8
|
|
No Preferred Option
|
8,782
|
1494
|
10,276
|
29.7
|
29.7
|
29.7
|
|
Other (2)
|
4,615
|
936
|
5,551
|
15.6
|
18.6
|
16.1
|
|
Total
|
29,543
|
5,027
|
34,570
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
Note:
(1) Reports submitted to the Courts, excluding Supplementary Reports (see Annex,
paragraph 17.4).
(2) "Other" includes absolute discharge, admonition and preferred option
unknown.
4.8 The main outcome in 17% of Social Enquiry Reports was Probation,
Custody and Deferred Sentence were the main outcome in 15% of reports each,
and 11% of reports resulted in Community Service.
|
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Main Outcome, 2000-01 to
2002-03
Number and Per cent of Reports
|
Table 8a
|
|
Main Outcome
|
Number of Reports
|
Per cent of Reports
|
|
2000-01
|
2001-02
|
2002-03
|
2000-01
|
2001-02
|
2002-03
|
|
Custody with Supervised Release Order
|
75
|
84
|
90
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
|
Custody with extended sentence
|
0
|
8
|
23
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.07
|
|
Custody
|
4,814
|
4,844
|
5,124
|
17.6
|
16.1
|
14.8
|
|
Probation with condition of unpaid work
|
1,325
|
1,345
|
1,953
|
4.9
|
4.5
|
5.6
|
|
Community Service
|
3,656
|
3,417
|
3,892
|
13.4
|
11.4
|
11.3
|
|
Probation with additional conditions
|
823
|
1,276
|
1,708
|
3.0
|
4.2
|
4.9
|
|
Probation with standard conditions
|
2,201
|
2,229
|
2,317
|
8.1
|
7.4
|
6.7
|
|
Monetary Penalty
|
3,122
|
3,347
|
3,653
|
11.4
|
11.1
|
10.6
|
|
Deferred (3 months or more)
|
4,305
|
4,446
|
5,023
|
15.8
|
14.8
|
14.5
|
|
Warrant for Apprehension
|
1,429
|
2,003
|
2,305
|
5.2
|
6.7
|
6.7
|
|
Outcome not yet known
|
575
|
871
|
1,343
|
2.1
|
2.9
|
3.9
|
|
Other (2)
|
4,979
|
6,195
|
7,139
|
18.2
|
20.6
|
20.7
|
|
Total
|
27,304
|
30,065
|
34,570
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
Note:
(1) Reports submitted to the Courts, excluding Supplementary Reports (see Annex,
paragraph 17.4).
(2) "Other" includes absolute discharge, admonition and outcome missing.
4.9 Males were relatively more likely to receive Custody (16%) or Community
Service (12%) than females (both 8%). Correspondingly, Probation with Standard
Conditions was relatively more common amongst female offenders, accounting for
11% of Social Enquiry Reports for females and 6% of those for males.
|
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Main Outcome and Gender,
2002-03
Number and Per cent of Reports
|
Table 8b
|
|
Main Outcome
|
Number of Reports
|
Per cent of Reports
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
|
Custody with Supervised Release Order
|
88
|
2
|
90
|
0.3
|
0.0
|
0.3
|
|
Custody with extended sentence
|
23
|
0
|
23
|
0.1
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
|
Custody
|
4,720
|
404
|
5,124
|
16.0
|
8.0
|
14.8
|
|
Probation with condition of unpaid work
|
1,716
|
237
|
1,953
|
5.8
|
4.7
|
5.6
|
|
Community Service
|
3,503
|
389
|
3,892
|
11.9
|
7.7
|
11.3
|
|
Probation with additional conditions
|
1,424
|
284
|
1,708
|
4.8
|
5.6
|
4.9
|
|
Probation with standard conditions
|
1,789
|
528
|
2,317
|
6.1
|
10.5
|
6.7
|
|
Monetary Penalty
|
3,231
|
422
|
3,653
|
10.9
|
8.4
|
10.6
|
|
Deferred (3 months or more)
|
4,174
|
849
|
5,023
|
14.1
|
16.9
|
14.5
|
|
Warrant for Apprehension
|
1,915
|
390
|
2,305
|
6.5
|
7.8
|
6.7
|
|
Outcome not yet known
|
1,155
|
188
|
1,343
|
3.9
|
3.7
|
3.9
|
|
Other (2)
|
5,805
|
1334
|
7,139
|
19.6
|
26.5
|
20.7
|
|
Total
|
29,543
|
5,027
|
34,570
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
Note:
(1) Reports submitted to the Courts, excluding Supplementary Reports (see Annex,
paragraph 17.4).
(2) "Other" includes absolute discharge, admonition and outcome missing.
4.10 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, the main outcome corresponded to the preferred option in
over one half of all Social Enquiry Reports. For Social Enquiry Reports where
the preferred option was a Custodial Sentence, the main outcome was a Custodial
Sentence in 72% of cases for males and 54% for females. Community Sentences
were the main outcome in 51% of Social Enquiry Reports for males and 58% of
reports for females where a Community Sentence was the preferred option.
|
Social Enquiry Reports (1) by Preferred Option and Main
Outcome, 2002-03
Per cent of Reports
|
Table 9
|
|
Preferred Option
|
Main outcome
|
|
|
Custodial Sentence
|
Community Sentence
|
Monetary Penalty
|
Other/ not known (2)
|
Total
|
Total preferred options
|
|
Males
|
|
Custodial Sentence
|
72.0
|
3.6
|
1.5
|
22.9
|
100.0
|
336
|
|
Community Sentence
|
18.5
|
50.6
|
8.1
|
22.8
|
100.0
|
13,467
|
|
Monetary Penalty
|
6.1
|
25.1
|
40.9
|
27.9
|
100.0
|
2,343
|
|
Other/ not known (2)
|
15.5
|
17.1
|
8.6
|
58.8
|
100.0
|
13,397
|
|
Total
|
16.4
|
28.5
|
10.9
|
44.2
|
100.0
|
29,543
|
|
|
|
Females
|
|
Custodial Sentence
|
53.8
|
15.4
|
0.0
|
30.8
|
100.0
|
13
|
|
Community Sentence
|
10.4
|
58.0
|
4.9
|
26.7
|
100.0
|
2,248
|
|
Monetary Penalty
|
4.2
|
25.0
|
33.3
|
37.5
|
100.0
|
336
|
|
Other/ not known (2)
|
7.4
|
17.6
|
7.3
|
67.7
|
100.0
|
2,430
|
|
Total
|
8.1
|
28.6
|
8.4
|
54.9
|
100.0
|
5,027
|
Note:
(1) Reports submitted to the Courts, excluding Supplementary Reports (see Annex,
paragraph 17.4).
(2) "Other/ not known" includes deferred sentence, warrant for apprehension/
recall, absolute discharge, admonition and preferred option/ outcome unknown.
]
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