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Publication - Statistics

Criminal Proceedings in Scotland: 2023-2024

Published
9 December 2025
Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate, +1 more … Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public safety and emergencies

Statistics on criminal proceedings in Scottish courts and alternative measures to prosecution, 2014-2015 to 2023-2024.

Part of

Supporting documents

3. Acquittals by crime type

(Table 2)

Acquittal definition

When an accused person is found not guilty of a charge, or the charge is not proven, this is called an “acquittal”.

High-level summary

In 2023-24:

  • the highest acquittal rate was for Rape and attempted rape, where 38% or 140 of the 365 people proceeded against were acquitted (Chart 4)
  • Sexual assault and Serious assault and attempted murder also had high acquittal rates (30% and 19% respectively) (Chart 4)

Chart 4. Rape & attempted rape and Sexual assault have the highest acquittal rates.

Crime types with the highest acquittal rates (not guilty and not proven) in Scottish courts in 2023-24.

A bar chart highlighting the eight crime categories with the highest acquittal rates against the overall acquittal rate for all crimes and offences. From highest to lowest these are: Rape and attempted rape (38%), Sexual assault (30%), Serious assault and attempted murder (19%), Murder and culpable homicide (17%), Other non-sexual violence (15%), Causing death by driving dangerously (14%), Urinating etc. (14%) and Causing to view sexual activity or images (13%). The acquittal rate for All crimes and offences was 6%.

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