Diversion from prosecution cases up seven per cent

The statistics report, Criminal justice social work statistics in Scotland: 2018-19, published today by Scotland’s chief statistician, also reveals that a total of 340 bail supervision cases were commenced in 2018-19, the first rise in numbers since 2013-14 and a 26 per cent increase on 2017-18.

The number of social work orders issued and criminal justice social work reports submitted fell by nine per cent and five per cent respectively between 2017-18 and 2018-19.

The main driver in the fall in social work orders over this period was the eight per cent drop in community payback orders issued, from 17,900 to 16,400. Most community payback orders included a requirement for unpaid work or other activity (73 per cent), and 58 per cent included offender supervision.

The successful completion rate for community payback orders was 68 per cent in 2018-19. This rate has generally been around 70 per cent over the last seven years.

Older people were more likely than younger people to successfully complete their community payback orders, with completion rates 78 per cent for those aged over 40 and 65 per cent for those aged 40 and under. In addition, those in employment (81 per cent) were substantially more likely to complete than those unemployed or economically inactive (62 per cent).

There were almost 600 drug treatment and testing orders issued in 2018-19, the highest level since 2013-14. The successful completion rate for drug treatment and testing orders was 37 per cent in 2018-19, the lowest in the last seven years.

There were 630 fiscal work orders commenced in 2018-19, a fall of 38 per cent from 2017-18. Eighty-seven per cent of orders terminated during that year were successfully completed.