1. Introduction
1. This bulletin is part of a series on the criminal justice system, and shows data up to 2008-09 on Scottish prison population level and characteristics, as well as information on receptions to Scottish prisons, breaches of discipline and international comparisons.
Chart 1 Average daily prison population (Scotland): 1900 to 2008-09
2. Figures for 2008-09 reflect the sustained increase in the prison population since 2000-01, reaching an average daily population of 7,835. This represents an increase of 6 per cent over the previous year.
3. The increase is primarily driven by the direct sentenced population. However, the numbers of remand prisoners and those recalled from licence/supervision have increased more rapidly over the past 10 years relative to sentenced prisoners, and now make up 29 per cent of the total population compared to 18 per cent in 1999-00.