7 Structured deferred sentences

(Tables 1, 8 & 9)

Key statistics for 2024-25:

• Structured deferred sentences commenced at highest level of 1,600 in 2024-25 since first collection in 2018-19.
• In 2024-25, 70 per cent of structured deferred sentences commenced were for males.
• Those over the age of 40 accounted for the highest proportion (31 per cent).
• Where employment status was known, 60 per cent were unemployed.

Structured deferred sentences (SDS) allow justice social work and relevant partners to provide a short-term intervention post-conviction but before final sentencing by the court.

Chart 4: Structured deferred sentences fell in 2020-21 before rising in each of the next four years to their highest level in 2024-25.

Number of structured deferred sentences imposed, 2018-19 to 2024-25, Scotland

After falling sharply to 450 in the first pandemic year of 2020-21, the number of SDS imposed in Scotland rose in each of the next four years, reaching its highest level of 1,600 in 2024-25 an increase of 12 per cent from 2023-24.

Twenty per cent of SDS had a length of less than three months in 2024-25. A further 41 per cent were for at least three months and less than six months. The remaining 39 per cent were for six months or more.

There were 1,400 SDS which finished during 2024-25. In 39 per cent of these, the person was admonished. A further 15 per cent were issued with a community payback order. Figures on outcomes by local authority area are in the additional justice social work datasets which accompany this publication. As well as judicial decision making, different outcomes may reflect the fact that SDS are not all used in the same way by different local authorities.