Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2018/19: main findings

Main findings from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2018/2019.


Table A1.23: Proportion of adults who were very or fairly confident in aspects of the criminal justice system¹

Proportion of adults who were 'very' or 'fairly' confident that the criminal justice system

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2012/13

2014/15

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

Percentage point change
since 2008/09 since 2017/18
Is effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice 53% 53% 56% 57% 60% 63% 62% 62% up by 9 No change
Deals with cases promptly and efficiently 35% 38% 42% 43% 43% 47% 44% 45% up by 10 No change
Makes sure everyone has access to the justice system if they need it 70% 71% 73% 76% 76% 75% 75% 76% up by 6 No change
Makes sure the system isn't different depending on where you live in Scotland 54% 55% 57% 64% 66% 63% 62% 63% up by 9 No change

Questions below only included since 2012/13 or question wording updated in 2012/13

Percentage point change
since 2012/13 since 2017/18
Makes fair, impartial decisions based on the evidence available N/A N/A N/A 70% 72% 73% 74% 72% up by 2 No change
Adequately takes into account the circumstances surrounding a crime when it hands out sentences N/A N/A N/A 55% 57% 60% 61% 60% up by 4 No change
Allows all victims of crime to seek justice regardless of who they are N/A N/A N/A 66% 68% 69% 68% 67% No change No change
Allows all those accused of crimes to get a fair trial regardless of who they are N/A N/A N/A 77% 77% 78% 77% 76% No change No change
Provides victims of crime with the services and support they need N/A N/A N/A 52% 55% 57% 56% 55% up by 3 No change
Provides witnesses with the services and support they need N/A N/A N/A 55% 56% 59% 58% 58% up by 2 No change
Treats those accused of crime as innocent until proven guilty N/A N/A N/A 74% 72% 72% 74% 72% down by 2 No change
Gives sentences which fit the crime N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 38% 37% N/A No change
Gives punishments which fit the crime N/A N/A N/A 32% 36% 39% N/A N/A N/A N/A
Provides a good standard of service for victims of crime 38% 41% 45% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Provides a good standard of service for witnesses 43% 45% 49% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Overall number of respondents 16,000 16,040 13,010 12,050 11,470 5,570 5,480 5,540

¹ Four of the current measures were first asked in 2008/09, the rest have only been asked in their current form since 2012/13, with one further amendment in 2017/18 (i.e. 'gives punishments which fit the crime' has become 'gives sentences which fit the crime' since 2017/18).

Contact

Email: scjs@gov.scot

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