Question reference: S6W-27216
- Date lodged: 2 May 2024
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Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently being held in Scotland's prison estate for non-violent offences, broken down by offence type.
Answer
The prison population on the morning of 6 May 2024 was 8,203 in custody. Excluding people held for index offences in Group 1 (Non-Sexual Crimes of Violence) or where the index offence could not be classified or originated outwith Scotland, provides a population of 3,927 people.
Further excluding Group 2 (Sexual Crimes) index offences of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault this population totals 2,466.
The full prison population is broken down by index offence type in the following table.
Where individuals in custody are accused or convicted of multiple offences, these are summarised by index offence. This is the offence for which they have received the longest sentence or, where they are on remand, which would on average receive the longest sentence. Each may have other associated offences for which they have received shorter sentences, or for which they have not yet been convicted, which may include acts of violence. Some offences cannot be classified in this way because the charges originate in other jurisdictions or because the data required were not available at the time the snapshot was taken.
Index Offence Group | Total |
Group 1: Non-Sexual Crimes of Violence | 3,935 |
Group 2: Sexual Crimes | 1,686 |
- Rape, Attempted Rape and Sexual Assault | 1,461 |
- Sexual Crimes excluding Rape, Attempted Rape and Sexual Assault | 225 |
Group 3: Crimes of dishonesty | 462 |
Group 4: Damage and reckless behaviour | 107 |
Group 5: Crimes against society | 1,206 |
Group 6: Antisocial offences | 233 |
Group 7: Miscellaneous offences | 132 |
Group 8: Road traffic offences | 101 |
Other Jurisdiction Charge | 47 |
Could not be classified | 294 |