Data on Scottish prison population levels and characteristics, receptions to/liberations from prison.
Official prison statistics from 2019-20 are based on a revised methodology. This methodology is described, alongside the measurements and analytical factors used across all publications from this source, in our technical manual.
The data produced in this way are made available for users to perform bespoke analysis through the Interactive Analysis Tool, available at the link below
Official statistics from the previous source relied on daily snapshots, which were affected by a technical issue leading to their discontinuation. Publications from 2019-20 include retrospective statistics to compare the new source with previous publications.
Between 2013-14 and 2019-20, SPS provided annual aggregations of their prison population estimates available on the Scottish Prison Service website.
View all crime and justice statistics from the Scottish Government
The latest longitudinal statistics on prison populations and flows into and out of prison. Includes information about the demographics of people in prison, the time they spend there, their sentences and offences.
Contact: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot
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