Sharp rise in prison numbers revealed

SCOTLAND’S prison population has risen sharply in the past two years despite Government attempts to reduce the number of inmates serving short sentences.

Official data show the average daily population rose 10 per cent between 2017/18 and 2019/20, from 7,464 to 8,195.

The increase was driven by adult men and by prisoners serving more than a year in jail.

Although the number of people sent to prison has fallen in the long term, inmates are spending longer in custody because of court and parole board decisions.

Since 2010/11, the number sent to prison has fallen 15% from 20,407 to 17,294 in 2019/20.

But the average time in jail is up since 2010/11, with the proportion of individuals leaving prison after a year or more rising from 7% to 10%, and the proportion leaving after three months or less down from 70% to 58%.

The number spending the whole of 2017/18 in jail was 2,909 while 14,429 spent part of the year behind bars.

However, in 2019/20, there were 3,417 “full-year” prisoners and 13,877 “partyear” inmates.

A presumption against sentences less than three months began in 2011, and this was extended to 12 months or less last July.

Although sheriffs and judges can still impose short sentences, this must be when “no other sentence is appropriate” and they provide an explanation.

SNP Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “These figures indicate that those who commit serious crimes and pose a risk of harm to the public are spending longer in prison than previously.

“However, there is still a large proportion of men and women given very short prison terms for less serious offences.

“Our focus on issues which can influence offending – including early intervention, prevention and community disposals – remains the right one.”