What do we know about the changing characteristics of the offender population in Scotland, focusing on the characteristics of those convicted of a crime according to age, sex, and the types of offences committed over the life-course? More specifically, what do we know about changes in the prevalence and frequency of conviction, including patterns of violent crime (both sexual and non-sexual), and the demographic profile of those involved?
Background
The Scottish Government’s Vision for Justice aims to support rehabilitation, use custody only where there is no alternative and work to reduce reoffending and revictimisation. It also aims to establish an effective, modern person-centred and trauma-informed approach to justice in which everyone can have trust, including as victims, those accused of crimes and as individuals in civil disputes. As such, Justice Analytical Services have identified the theme of ‘Sentencing Prisons & Rehabilitation’ as a research priority. Robust research on offenders, their rehabilitation and sentencing patterns will inform work towards these aims.
Next steps
Get in touch with Justice_Analysts@gov.scot
Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Research fields
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Related UKRI funded projects
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ADR UK Data First Evaluation Fellowship
Until recently, the large amounts of administrative data routinely collected about offenders as they are moved through the Criminal Justice System have been inaccessible to research. Instead, our understanding has largel...
Funded by: ESRC
Why might this be relevant?
The project focuses on analyzing offenders' characteristics, patterns of conviction, and the impact of interventions, aligning with the question's scope.
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Lives Sentenced: The Punishment Careers of Persistent Offenders
There has been little research examining how those who are punished by the criminal justice system experience and give meaning to their sentences. Research that does exist has largely focused on one single sentence. Howe...
Funded by: ESRC
Why might this be relevant?
The project explores the meaning of sentences for persistent offenders, partially addressing the question's focus on offender characteristics and patterns of conviction.
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Regulating Justice: The Dynamics of Compliance and Breach in Criminal Justice Social Work in Scotland
Not only does Scotland imprison more people than most European countries, but our prison numbers are also rising despite a fall in crime levels. The Scottish Government is attempting to reduce imprisonment through increa...
Funded by: ESRC
Why might this be relevant?
The project investigates compliance and breach in criminal justice social work, partially relevant to understanding patterns of conviction and offender characteristics.