While median time on remand before departure remained at 21 days in 2022-23, the longest periods spent on remand have risen significantly. In 2017-18, 90 per cent of remand departures had occurred within 63 days, with the longest 10 per cent of stays before departure taking 64 days or more. By 2022-23, the longest 10 per cent of stays before departure from remand took 146 days or more.

For those transitioning from remand to the sentenced population, the median time on remand fell slightly (from 55 to 54 days). However, for the 10 per cent staying longest before transitioning, time on remand continued to increase. In 2019-20, 90 per cent of transitions occurred within 145 days, with the longest 10 per cent of stays before transition taking 146 days or more.

By 2022-23 the longest 10 per cent of stays before transitioning from remand took 289 days or more.

The average daily prison population in Scotland remained stable at a reduced level for a third consecutive year in 2022-23, falling by one per cent from 7,506 in 2021-22 to 7,426, the data from the chief statistician show.

The average daily prison population in 2022-23 was around nine per cent lower than in 2019-20 when it was 8,197.

However, it should be noted, that the prison population has risen sharply since January 2023.

The overall average figures mask in-year changes in the prison population. In 2022-23, the sentenced population rose slowly between the second and fourth quarters of 2022 before increasing rapidly in the first quarter of 2023 (from an average of 5,562 in January 2023 to 5,738 in March 2023).

Those with index offences in Group 1 (Non-sexual Crimes of Violence) remained the largest group in the average daily sentenced population in 2022-23, comprising 45 per cent of the total at 2,530 (-1 per cent from 2021-22). Those with Group 2 (Sexual) index offences continued to grow (+10 per cent from 2021-22 to 1,225), and comprised 22 per cent of the average daily sentenced population in 2022-23.

The average daily sentenced populations with index offences in Group 3 (Dishonesty) and Group 5 (Crimes against society) continued to fall in 2022-23 – down 12 per cent from 2021-22 to 304 and down eight per cent to 743, respectively.

The average daily remand population fell by three per cent in 2022-23, but remained high at 1,804. The proportion of the average daily prison population held on remand in 2022-23 was 24 per cent (-1 per cent from 2021-22 and the second highest annual rate to date). Those who were untried comprised the majority of the average daily remand population in 2022-23 (around 84 per cent, the same proportion as in 2021-22). The remaining 16 per cent were, on the average day in both reporting years, held as ‘convicted awaiting sentence’.