3 Social Enquiry Reports ( SERs)
(Tables 1 to 8, Chart 2)
3.1 A total of 42,500 SERs were submitted in 2008-09 by Local Authorities to the Courts (excluding letters sent in lieu of reports). This is an increase of 1 per cent from the 42,000 submitted in 2007-08. Also in 2008-09, a total of 51,000 SERs were requested by the Courts, an increase of 2 per cent from the 2007-08 total of 50,100 ( Table 1).
SERs, excluding Supplementary Reports
3.2 A total of 36,300 SERs (excluding Supplementary Reports) were submitted to the Courts in 2008-09, a small increase of 1 per cent compared to the 2007-08 total of 35,900 ( Table 5). The majority (84 per cent) of these reports in 2008-09 were made in respect of males ( Table 6).
3.3 SERs were most common amongst young adults, accounting for 322 per 10,000 population of 18 to 20 year olds ( Table 2). The incidence of SERs was also relatively common amongst 16 to 17 year olds (242 per 10,000 population) and 21 to 25 year olds (219 per 10,000 population). These figures were substantially higher for males (Chart 2), with the highest for males aged 18 to 20 (558 per 10,000 population). It should be noted that one person can be the subject of more than one SER within a year.
Chart 2 Number of SERs, 2006-07 to 2008-09
Notes relating to SERs in Chart 2:
1. Includes supplementary reports.
2. 16-17 year old category includes a small number of reports relating to clients aged under 16 years.
3.4 Males who were the subject of SERs tended to be younger than females, with 28 per cent of reports for males and 19 per cent of those for females relating to under 21 year olds (Chart 2 and Table 2).
3.5 The majority of SERs related to the unemployed (55 per cent) with only 3 per cent of SERs being for people in full time education or on a government sponsored training scheme ( Table 3).
SERs and Preferred Options
3.6 One of the main purposes of a SER is to offer information and advice which can help the court decide between the available sentencing options. The National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System state that: "Whilst reports must not include a recommendation as such, report writers may indicate, on the basis of their review and assessment, which non-custodial option is in their opinion most likely to prevent or reduce future offending in the event of the court deciding it not necessary to impose a custodial sentence. … If the offender has been assessed as someone who could pose a risk of serious harm to others, the court will appreciate advice on the desirability of a Supervised Release Order or Extended Sentence in the event of custody."
3.7 Fifteen per cent of SERs in 2008-09 gave no preferred sentencing option, a decrease from 17 per cent in 2007-08 ( Table 6). Probation was the preferred option in 24 per cent of SERs, just under half being with standard conditions. Fifteen per cent of reports gave Community Service as the preferred option which tended to be more common for males (16 per cent) than for females (11 per cent). Fifteen per cent gave a deferred sentence of 3 months or more as the preferred option and 8 per cent of SERs suggested a monetary penalty. Custody was rarely suggested, featuring as the preferred option in just under 4 per cent of reports. Around 18 per cent of reports suggested some other form of preferred option (including a Restriction of Liberty Order ( RLO) or a deferment for a Drug Treatment and Testing Order ( DTTO) assessment).
3.8 The main outcome ( Table 7) in 22 per cent of SERs was Probation, closely followed by Community Service (15 per cent) and Custody (14 per cent). Other main outcomes were Monetary Penalty and Deferred Sentence (both 9 per cent).
3.9 Males were more likely to receive Custody (17 per cent) or Community Service (15 per cent) than females (7 and 12 per cent respectively). On the contrary, Probation with Standard Conditions was more common amongst female offenders, accounting for 11 per cent of SERs for females and 7 per cent for males.
3.10 Outcomes and preferred options can be grouped into 4 broad categories ( Table 8): Custodial Sentence, Community Sentence (Probation, Community Service, Restriction of Liberty Orders and Deferments for DTTO Assessments), Monetary Penalty and Other/not known (covering all other preferred options and outcomes). Using this grouping (excluding Glasgow City for which this was not available), the main outcome corresponded to the preferred option in 44 per cent of all SERs. For SERs where the preferred option was a Custodial Sentence, the main outcome was a Custodial Sentence in 73 per cent of cases for males and 54 per cent for females. Community Sentences were the main outcome in 58 per cent of SERs for males and 60 per cent of reports for females where a Community Sentence was the preferred option.