Statistical Bulletin: Crime and Justice Series: Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics, 2010-11

5. Statutory Throughcare ( TC), Voluntary Assistance ( VA) and Throughcare Addiction Service ( TAS)

(Tables 1&25 to 28,Chart 8&Chart 9)

5.1 A total of 5,300 individuals were subject to Statutory Throughcare (in the community and in custody) as at 31 March 2011, a decrease of 5 per cent from the 5,500 such individuals the previous year ( Table 1 and Table 25). Of these individuals in 2010-11, 41 per cent were being supervised in the community.

5.2 1,050 Statutory Throughcare ( TC) cases in the community commenced in 2010-11. This was a decrease of 2 per cent from the 1,060 cases which commenced in 2009-10 ( Table 26). Several local authorities have acknowledged that there have been problems with recording this data in the past, and some authorities have had a change of system during the reporting period. Data quality continues to improve but any conclusions about trends over time should be treated with some caution. Almost all cases commenced were for males (96 per cent). Twenty-one per cent of all cases were for Parole licences, 25 per cent for Non Parole licences, 17 per cent for Supervised Release Orders and 17 per cent for Extended Sentences.

5.3 There were 2,200 cases in the community currently being supervised, 97 per cent of which were for males.

5.4 In 2010-11, 880 Throughcare (in the community) cases were completed, an increase of 4 per cent from 850 in 2009-10. Twenty-three per cent of cases completed related to Parole licences, 27 per cent to non-parole licences and 20 per cent to Supervised Release Orders. The remaining 31 per cent related to Extended Sentences, Life licences and other forms of community supervision.

5.5 Criminal Justice Social Work is expected to provide a throughcare service to all prisoners who are subject to statutory supervision post release. This service begins at the start of a prisoner's sentence and is managed via the Scottish Prison Service's Integrated Case Management process. In 2010-11, 1,030 Throughcare (in custody) cases commenced, 1 per cent higher than in 2009-10 ( Table 27). Again, the majority were for males (94 per cent). Forty-seven per cent of the total in 2010-11 were for other determinate sentences of four years and over, 20 per cent for Supervised Release Orders, 18 per cent for Extended Sentences, 8 per cent for short-term sex offenders and 5 per cent for Life licences.

Chart 8 TC (community) by Type and Gender, 2010-11
Number of cases per 10,000 population

Notes relating to Chart 8:
1. Section 15 of the Management of Offenders Etc. (Scot) Act 2005.

Chart 9 TC (custody) by Type and Gender, 2010-11
Number of cases per 10,000 population

Notes relating to Chart 9:
1. Section 15 of the Management of Offenders Etc. (Scot) Act 2005.

5.6 There were 3,100 cases in custody currently being supervised, 96 per cent of which were for males.

5.7 Information on Voluntary Assistance ( VA) was collected for the first time in 2004-05 and, from 2005-06 onwards, included data on the Throughcare Addiction Service (see paragraph 5.9). There were a total of 2,350 individuals receiving voluntary assistance in 2010-11 ( Table 1 and Table 28). This was a decrease of 3 per cent compared to the 2,430 individuals receiving assistance in 2009-10.

5.8 In 2010-11, a total of 2,700 voluntary assistance cases commenced, an increase of 2 per cent on the previous year.

5.9 The Throughcare Addiction Service ( TAS) commenced on 1 August 2005 and forms part of the voluntary aftercare service. Further information is available in the Annex at paragraph 10.21. Of the voluntary assistance cases commenced, 1,520 related to the Throughcare Addiction Service ( TAS). These cases related to 1,350 individuals who received TAS in 2010-11. This was a decrease on the 2009-10 figures.