Criminal justice statistics user guide
This document provides detailed information on the Criminal Proceedings and Reconviction Rates in Scotland statistical bulletins. It is designed as a reference guide with explanatory notes regarding issues and classifications which are crucial to the production and presentation of criminal justice statistics in Scotland.
1. Bulletins covered by this document
1.1 Criminal Proceedings in Scotland
The Criminal Proceedings in Scotland bulletin presents statistics on criminal proceedings concluded in Scottish courts and on a range of measures available as alternatives to prosecution, which are issued by the police and by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Detailed figures for the most recent financial year available are presented, along with selected trends for the preceding ten years.
1.2 Reconviction Rates in Scotland
The Reconviction Rates in Scotland bulletin presents statistics on people who are reconvicted of a crime or offence within 12 months of release from custody or being given a non-custodial sentence. Detailed figures for the most recent financial year available are presented, along with selected trends for the preceding ten years. Since 12 months of data following the original or ‘index’ conviction is needed, the cohort of offenders is always one year earlier than the most recent criminal proceedings data. For example, after the ‘Criminal Proceedings in Scotland: 2022 to 2023’ bulletin was published, the next reconvictions bulletin was ‘Reconviction Rates in Scotland, 2021 to 2022 offender cohort.’