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Imprisonment numbers highest in a decade |
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Tuesday, 03 June 2008 |
More Scots were imprisoned in 2006/07 than in any year since 1998 according to new figures released by the Scottish Government today.
The Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts 2006/07 show that 18,200 custodial sentences were handed down by Scottish courts, a rise of 9 per cent. This compares with 17,400 community sentences, largely unchanged from the year before.
Over 80 per cent of all custodial sentences were for six months or less and the peak age for conviction for any offence was 18. In all, a total of 153,900 people were proceeded against in court, an increase of 5 per cent and also the highest figure since 1998/99.
Justice Secretary Kenny said the figures demonstrate the need to focus on providing effective community sentences as an alternative to prison.
“These figures are a stark reminder of the problems that we have inherited. Our prisons are full. In the course of a year many thousands of offenders who are serving short sentences for minor crimes pass through our overcrowded prisons. As a result, the serious and dangerous criminals who are rightly locked up are not getting the help they need to help them to tackle the underlying causes of their offending.
“I remain convinced that community penalties can play an increasing part in our progressive penal policy. There is strong evidence to suggest that re-offending levels are much lower for those who carry out community penalties as opposed to short prison sentences. However I accept that there is still much work to be done in terms of improving the effectiveness of community penalties. That is why our action plan on community penalties is being taken forward as a matter of urgency and will allow courts to use them with confidence in a wider range of cases in future.”
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