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Commentary
Prison population
Total average daily population
In 2004/05, the average daily population in Scottish
prisons totalled 6,779, an increase of 2 per cent when
compared with the 2003/04 figure of 6,621, and the highest
annual level ever recorded. Over the nine year period,
1996/97 - 2004/05, the average daily prison population has
increased by 13 per cent. In the same nine year period the
female prison population has increased by 75 per cent; over
six times the growth experienced in the male prison
population (11 per cent). The average daily female prison
population increased from 314 in 2003/04 to 332 in 2004/05,
an increase of 6 per cent.
Chart 2 Average daily prison population, by
category of prisoner
Remand population
The average daily remand population in 2004/05 was 1,216
(1,132 males and 84 females), a 2 per cent decrease
compared to the 2003/04 figure of 1,246. Young offender
remand numbers increased by 4 per cent from 251 in 2003/04
to 260 in 2004/05, while adult remand numbers decreased by
4 per cent from 995 to 956.
Looking at differences between types of remand, the
average daily population of untried prisoners decreased by
5 per cent from 1,085 in 2003/04 to 1,031 in 2004/05, while
the average daily population of those prisoners who were
convicted awaiting sentence increased by 15 per cent from
161 in 2003/04 to 185 in 2004/05.
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 2004/05, the
average population of fine defaulters was 61, a decrease of
5 per cent compared to 64 in 2003/04.
Sentenced population
The average population of sentenced young offenders was
560 in 2004/05, a decrease of 2 per cent compared with the
2003/04 figure of 573. The number of male sentenced young
offenders fell from 549 in 2003/04 to 530 in 2004/05 and
the number of female sentenced young offenders increased
from 24 in 2003/04 to 30 in 2004/05.
The average daily adult sentenced population was 5,001
in 2004/05, an increase of 4 per cent compared with the
2003/04 figure of 4,802. There was an increase of 21 per
cent in the average number of adult prisoners serving
sentences of less than 3 months (from 59 in 2003/04 to 71
in 2004/05). The average daily adult population serving
sentences of between 6 months and 2 years showed virtually
no change between 2003/04 and 2004/05. The number of
prisoners serving sentences of 2 years and over but less
than 4 years increased by 3 per cent from 744 in 2003/04 to
763 in 2004/05.
The number of long-term adult prisoners, those sentenced
to 4 years or more (including life sentences and recalls),
increased by 5 per cent from 2,641 in 2003/04 to 2,766 in
2004/05. The number of persons recalled from supervision or
license has continued to rise, increasing from 301 in
2003/04 to 348 in 2004/05 (16 per cent).
Population on 30 June 2004
On 30 June 2004, there were 6,962 prisoners in total,
6,620 males and 342 females. Half of the prisoners were
aged between 25 and 39. This age distribution is similar to
that in 2003.
On 30 June 2004, ethnic minority groups represented 2
per cent (153 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 2004
Forty one per cent of the sentenced population on 30
June 2004 were detained for serious crimes of violence, for
example, murder, serious assault and robbery, and a further
14 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 2004 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 2004, 29 per cent of all prisoners were given
a supervision level of 'High', 37 per cent had a
supervision level of 'Medium' and the remaining 34 per cent
had a 'Low' supervision level.
Receptions
Receptions by sentence type
Remand receptions decreased slightly from 18,963 in
2003/04 to 18,892 in 2004/05.
The total number of sentenced receptions (including
direct sentenced, fine default and recalls from
supervision/license) decreased by 4 per cent between
2003/04 and 2004/05, from 19,357 to 18,584. Direct
sentenced receptions remained virtually unchanged from the
previous year, at 12,207 in 2004/05 compared to 12,204 in
2003/04. However, fine default receptions decreased by 11
per cent, from 6,888 in 2003/04 to 6,098 in 2004/05.
Chart 4 Prison receptions by sentence type,
1996/97-2004/05
In 2004/05, the number of receptions relating to
individuals sentenced in the High Court was 947, which
represented a 24 per cent decrease on the 2003/04 figure of
1,238. From the Sheriff Court (under solemn and summary
procedure) the number of receptions was 14,131 and from the
District and Stipendiary Magistrate courts the number was
3,123. These figures represent 5 per cent, 77 per cent and
17 per cent of all sentenced receptions respectively, a
very similar distribution to 2003/04. The number of
sentenced receptions emanating from High Court decreased by
16 per cent from those in 2003/04, whilst Sheriff Court
receptions increased by less than 1 per cent.
Direct sentenced receptions
Adult direct sentenced receptions increased by less than
half a per cent from 10,255 in 2003/04 to 10,299 in
2004/05. Young offender direct sentenced receptions
decreased by 2 per cent from 1,949 in 2003/04 to 1,908 in
2004/05. The number of young offender direct sentenced
receptions in 2004/05 was again the lowest level recorded
since comparable data was first collected in 1989.
Chart 5 Direct sentenced receptions by average
sentence length imposed, 1996/97-2004/05
Among the more common crimes and offences, the average
sentence length imposed for determinate direct sentenced
receptions of adults in 2004/05 ranged from 95 days for
breach of the peace to 817 days (just over 2 years) for
serious assault and attempted murder. 17 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 (18 per cent and
19 per cent respectively).
The average sentence lengths for young offenders ranged
from 108 days for theft from a motor vehicle (by
OLP) to 431 days for robbery, and 668
days for serious assault and attempted murder. Of all young
offender direct sentenced receptions, 13 per cent sentenced
for serious assault and attempted murder and 3 per cent
sentenced for robbery were sentenced for 4 years or
over.
Fine default receptions
The number of adult fine default receptions decreased to
5,404 in 2004/05, down 11 per cent from 6,063 in 2003/04.
The average length of fine default sentences imposed on
adults in 2004/05 was 11 days, which exhibited little
change from the average since 1996/97.
Between 2003/04 and 2004/05, young offender receptions
for fine default decreased by 16 per cent from 825 to 694,
continuing the downward trend from 1997/98. The average
length of fine default sentences imposed on young offenders
in 2004/05 was 11 days, which exhibited little change from
the average since 1996/97.
The average fine outstanding for young offenders in
2004/05 was £283, a 6 per cent rise on the 2003/04 figure
of £266. The average fine outstanding for male young
offenders in 2004/05 was £285 and the average fine
outstanding for female young offenders in 2004/05 was
£219.
Chart 6 Fine default receptions by amount of
fine outstanding, 2004/05
The average fine outstanding for adult offenders in
2004/05 was £289, 4 per cent higher than the 2003/04 figure
of £277. The average fine outstanding for adult males in
2004/05 was £294 and the average fine outstanding for adult
females in 2004/05 was £243.
Children on unruly certificates
The number of unruly certificates received in 2004/05
was 20 compared with 23 in 2003/04. All but one unruly
certificate related to males.
In 2004/05, unlike most of the previous years, 15 year
olds did not make up the majority of children held on
unruly certificates, although they were still the largest
age group. During 2004/05, 3 unruly certificates were
received regarding fourteen year olds, 9 certificates were
received in respect of fifteen year olds, 7 certificates
for sixteen year olds and 1 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 (12) were crimes of violence.
The average time spent in custody (before sentence, if
any) was 17 days in 2004/05, 2 days less than in 2003/04.
During 2004/05, 60 per cent of the unruly certificate
receptions spent less than 14 days in custody.
Breaches of discipline and punishments
There were 20,277 breaches of discipline recorded in
Scottish penal establishments in 2004/05. The most common
breaches were 'disobeying a lawful order' (35 per cent of
all breaches), 'administering, or allowing to be
administered, a controlled drug to himself' (14 per cent),
and 'possession of an unauthorised article or quantity of
an article' (12 per cent). In response to these breaches,
29,969 punishments were awarded in total. The most commonly
awarded punishments were 'stoppage/deduction from earnings
or other cash' (44 per cent of all punishments), and
'forfeiture of privileges' (40 per cent).
International comparisons of prison
population
In Scotland there were 135 prisoners for every 100,000
members of the general population in 2004. The rate for
England and Wales was 142. Imprisonment rates varied
greatly between the jurisdictions considered; from 726 per
100,000 population in
USA and 529 in Russia to 59 in Japan and
53 in Cyprus.
Chart 7 Prison population rate per 100,000
population in 2004
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