Working people most likely to complete community payback, figures show

People already in work are more likely to complete a community payback order than those who are "economically inactive", acording to the latest criminal justice social work statistics, published today.

The report, showing the figures for 2015-16, also reveals that the likelihood of completing an order rises with the age of the offender.

Published by the Chief Statistician for Scotland, it includes information on criminal justice social work services and social work orders, as well as characteristics of the people involved.

The number of social work orders issued in 2015-16 was 20,400, similar to levels over the last seven years, with 95% comprising community payback orders. It also includes 510 fiscal work orders, which were rolled out across Scotland during 2015-16, and drug treatment and testing orders. Of the total, 68% were successfully completed during the year, a figure in line with the past five years.

More than three quarters of community payback orders (76%) included a requirement for unpaid work or other activity. Just over half (51%) included an offender supervision requirement.

The completion rate for community payback orders "showed a consistent increase with age, ranging from 50% for 16-17 year olds to 78% for the over 40s". For those in employment the rate was 81%, compared with 64% for the unemployed or economically inactive.

There were 520 drug treatment and testing orders issued in 2015-16, and numbers have been trending downward since 2012-13.

Click here to view the full report.