Diversions up, payback orders down in 2018-19, figures show
The number of cases diverted from prosecution in Scotland rose by 7% last year, while fewer community payback orders were issued, official figures released today show.
According to Criminal justice social work statistics in Scotland: 2018-19, diversions from prosecution rose between 2017-18 and 2018-19 to over 1,800, or around the same as the levels in 2014-15 and 2015-16. A total of 340 cases of supervised bail – an alternative to being remanded in custody – were commenced in 2018-19, the first rise in numbers since 2013-14 and a 26% increase on 2017-18.
Meanwhile there was an 8% 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%), and 58% included offender supervision. The fall lies behind a drop in the number of social work orders issued and criminal justice social work reports submitted, by 9% and 5% respectively.
The successful completion rate for community payback orders was 68% in 2018-19. This rate has generally been around 70% over the last seven years and is consistently higher than the completion rates for the orders which community payback orders replaced.
Older people were more likely than younger people to successfully complete their community payback orders, with completion rates 78% for those aged over 40 and 65% for those aged 40 and under. In addition, those in employment (81%) were substantially more likely to complete than those unemployed or economically inactive (62%).
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% in 2018-19, the lowest in the last seven years.
There were 630 fiscal work orders commenced in 2018-19, a fall of 38% from 2017-18, while 87% of orders terminated during that year were successfully completed.