Reconviction Rates in Scotland: 2020-21 Offender Cohort

3. Introduction

The statistics presented in this bulletin are derived from the data used in the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland statistical bulletin. The Criminal Proceedings data are in turn derived from information held on the Criminal History System (CHS) which is maintained by Police Scotland.

3.1 Changes made to this publication

Changes have been made to this year’s report as follows:

1. Similar to the Criminal Proceedings publication, A new crime and offence grouping structure has been used for the first time. This new classification includes moving Common assault and Stalking from Miscellaneous offences to Non-sexual crimes of violence and greater disaggregation of both Non-sexual crimes of violence and Sexual crimes.

2. Additional data has been provided on previous convictions of those who offended in 2021-22, broken down by crime type. This additional measure is used to balance the current one-year reconvictions measure that has been affected by the increase in Journey Times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Note that the extension of the presumption against short sentences came into force on 4th July 2019 and only applies to offences committed on or after this date. Therefore, this bulletin contains figures for index convictions is the first time a full cohort year may be affected by PASS.

3.2 An Accredited Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

These statistics are accredited official statistics. The Office for Statistics Regulation has independently reviewed and accredited these statistics as complying with the standards of trustworthiness, quality, and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

Scottish Government statistics are regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

More information about Scottish Government statistics is available on the Scottish Government website.