Sacro helps create safer and more cohesive communities across Scotland.

From providing conflict resolution that prevents disputes from escalating to supporting prisoners on release, we'll work with you to repair harm and reduce conflict and reoffending.


Criminal Justice

Our Criminal Justice services help reduce offending in communities. Find out more

Youth Justice

Our Youth Justice Services offer support to those affected by and responsible for harm. Find out more

Mediation

Our skilled Community Mediators deal with local disputes and help make communities safe. Find out more

Sacro welcomes extension of presumption against short sentences

Posted on 17th May 2019

Sacro regards the proposed extension of the presumption against short-term prison sentences from three to 12 months as a welcome development with the potential to reduce Scotland’s prison population safely and with a greater focus on effective rehabilitation through the use of community sentences.

Did you know...

Scottish Prison Service (SPS) annual reports show a 2% fall in the average prison population between 2015-16 and 2016-17

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In 2015-16, Scottish police forces recorded 332 offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been involved, a decrease of 7% from the number recorded in 2014-15 and the lowest number since comparable records began in 1980.

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The average number of reconvictions per offender has decreased by 17% in the past decade.

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For those who are convicted in court and sentenced to custody, the average sentence in 2016-17 was around 10 months (313 days) in length. This is 7% longer than in 2015-16 and 26% longer than in
2007-08 (8 months).

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Charges aggravated by religion (all religious aggravations not limited to ‘sectarian’ offending) rose by 14% to 673 in 2016-17.

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Hate crime charges reported which were aggravated by sexual orientation increased by 5% in 2016-17 to 1,075.

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There were 64 homicide victims recorded by the police in Scotland in 2016-17, a 44% decrease from 2007-08.

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There were 58,810 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in 2016-17, an increase of 1% on 2015-16

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There were an estimated 712,000 crimes experienced by adults in Scotland in 2016/17, down by nearly a third (32%) since 2008/09 (but no change
detected since 2014/15).

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The likelihood of experiencing crime in 2016/17 was higher for young adults (19.5%), those in urban areas (14.8%) and those in the most deprived areas (19.4%).

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77% of Scots agree that Community sentencing is an effective way of dealing with certain crimes

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On average, 18% of the average daily prison population in Scotland are there on remand

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Recorded crime in Scotland is at its lowest level since 1974

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Upcoming Events

The Sacro Lecture 2019: David Wilson

18th November 2019
Signet Library, Edinburgh

The Sacro Lecture 2019 will be delivered by Professor Emeritus David Wilson.

Prof. Wilson will be exploring the popularity of “Tartan Noir” crime fiction as a genre and its favourite...

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