Coronavirus (COVID-19): Justice Analytical Services data report - August 2020
Third release of a monthly data report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the justice system in Scotland, including information from Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, courts and prisons.
Criminal Disposals
There were 68% fewer disposals from Scotland's courts from April to August 2020 compared with April-August 2019.
Between April and August 2019, there were 36,569 disposals in Scotland's courts (excluding secondary disposals and the 'other' disposal category). There have been 11,566 disposals between April and August 2020.
If courts had not been subject to lockdown and crime levels had remained the same we could have expected the number of April-August 2020 court disposals to be similar to April-August 2019 levels.
From April to August of 2020, there have been 59% fewer custodial sentences and 81% fewer community disposals imposed by the courts than might have been expected under normal circumstances.
| To 31 August 2020 | April – August 2019 | April – August 2020 | Change since 2019 N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imprisonment | 5,251 | 2,129 | -3,122 (-59%) |
| Community Disposal (CPO & DTTO) | 7,013 | 1,330 | -5,683 (-81%) |
| Restriction of Liberty Order | 1,418 | 395 | -1,023 (-72%) |
| Fine etc. | 15,420 | 4,815 | -10,605 (-69%) |
| Admonished/ Discharged | 7,467 | 2,897 | -4,570 (-61%) |
Overall, the number of crimes and offences recorded by the police between April and August 2020 was 7% lower than the same period in 2019. It will take time for these cases to make their way through the courts system and it is unlikely that many of these cases are included in the disposal figures above. Any changes in crime levels may have associated impacts on volumes of court business and disposals.
Further Information:
Latest SCTS published official statistics can be found here:https://scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics
Contact
Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot
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